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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  c  r  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ornbre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marpa  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whtinever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  fiiriing/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pagss  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6X6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mantaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exempiaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
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point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6as 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  ^he  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiedement 
obs'^urcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6X6  film^es  6  nouveau  de  faqon  6 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous 

10X                  14X                  18X                  aax 

26X 

30X 

y 

V 

12X                              1IX                             20X                              24X                             MX                             32X 

The  copy  filmad  hare  haa  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  nf  British  Columbia 


L'axampiaira  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAn6rositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


Tha  imagas  appearing  hare  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  tha  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  imagas  suivantes  ont  it^  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  I'exemplaire  film6.  et  en 
conformity  avec  lea  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  ot  "n  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmis  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmi  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  i  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagramnies  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

REV.     QUSTAVUS     MINES. 


^ 


1 

I 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS; 


COMPRISING  A 


|ttU  |ist0rg  of  tk  MillanutU  llniirttsitg, 


THE  FIRST  ESTABLISHED  ON  THE  PACIFIC  COAST. 


By  Eev.  GUSTAVUS   HINES. 


WITH      FOUR      ENaRAVINaS' 


New  Vork : 
CARLTON    &   PORTER, 

200  MULBKKRY  STKKET. 


F 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congre6is  In  the  year  1868,  by 

REV.    QUSTAVUS    HINES, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 

District  of  New  York. 


^ 


1 

1 


INTRODUCTION. 


Southern 


The  home  of  the  author  of  the  following  pages  is  within 
the  limits  of  the  country  which  he  has  attempted  to 
describe.  A  native  of  the  great  state  of  New  York,  a 
visitor  to  every  continent  on  the  globe,  an  admirer  of 
ten  thousand  beautiful  localities  in  the  numerous  coun- 
tries which  have  come  under  his  observation,  he  would 
not  exchange  his  humble  sunset  home  in  the  delightful 
valley  of  the  Willamette  River,  near  the  blue  and  placid 
waters  of  the  great  Pacific  Ocean,  either  for  mansions 
of  wealth  in  the  crowded  city,  or  for  any  other  spot 
which  he  has  ever  seen  upon  the  surface  of  this  green 
earth. 

Twenty-eight  years  ago  he  became  a  voluntary  exile 
to  that  far-off  land.  From  that  period  he  has  felt  that 
he  had  an  identity  of  interests  with  the  country  of  his 
adoption,  and  for  twenty-one  years  he  has  lived  and 
labored  and  traveled  within  its  bounds,  and  claims  to 
be  thoroughly  posted  upon  all  those  subjects  to  which, 
with  all  due  deference,  he  would  invite  the  attention  of 
the  reading  public. 

Conscious  of  his  want  of  power  to  array  his  work 
in  that  fascinating  drapery  necessary  to  charm  the 
reader  at  once  into  an  unqualified  approval,  he  would 
endeavor  to  conciliate  him  into  a  purpose  to  peruse  the 


■  rr 
[ 


'^J^ 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

volume  by  assuring  him  that,  in  whatever  it  may  be  de- 
ficient as  to  ornate  qualities,  its  truthfulness  and  relia- 
bility are  not  to  be  called  in  question. 

In  the  excitement  of  the  times  the  public,  especially 
in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  seem  almost  to  have 
lost  sight  of  Oregon,  and  one  of  the  primary  objects 
which  the  author  has  in  view  is  again  to  awaken  an 
interest  in  the  community  generally,  and  in  the  Chris- 
tian Churches  particularly,  in  relation  to  that  distant 
and  feeble  member  of  this  great  family  of  states. 

The  history  of  the  Willamette  University,  which  has 
been  traced  in  this  volume,  cannot  fail  deeply  to  enlist 
the  reader's  sympathies  lu  behalf  of  an  infant  people 
struggling  in  their  weakness  and  poverty  to  lay  the 
foundations  of  a  Christian  civilization  in  the  future 
Pacific  empire ;  and  the  author  hopes  the  reader  will 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  an  institution  commenced 
and  carried  forward  under  the  embarrassments  that 
have  pressed  upon  this  one,  is  worthy  of  all  confidence, 
and  should  be  sustained  by  every  necessary  means. 

And  now,  reader,  you  need  just  the  information  which 
this  book  can  give  you  with  regard  to  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington Territory.  Read  it;  though  an  unpretending 
book,  the  instructions  conveyed  will  be  more  valuable 
than  volumes  of  fiction. 

GUSTAVUS   HiNES. 

New  York,  January  10,  1868. 


CONTENTS. 


PAOB 
OBAPTIB 

I.  General  Descripttox  op  the  Country ' 

II.  The  Capes  and  Coast  Range  op  Mountains 18 

III.  The  Lower  Valleys  and  the  Cascade  Mountains 25 

IV.  The  Valley  of  the  Great  Columbia ^0 

V.  The  Counties  of  Oregon ^1 

VT.  History   op  the   Oregon  Institute  and  Willamette 

10(1 

University ' •'"' 

VII.  Organization  of  the  Willamette  University 115 

VIII.  Scholarships  and  Internal  History 193 

IX.  Population,  new  Constitution,  and  Endowment 206 

X.  The  Internal  History  of  the  University 225 

XI.  History  of  the  New  College  Building 261 

XII.  Miscellaneous  Matters  connected  with  our  History  .  271 

XIII.  A  Brief  Summary  of  Facts , 284 

XIV.  Reminiscences  op  Missionary  Life 297 


■  »•» «- 


lllustralbns. 

♦- 

Rev.  Gustavus  Hines Front 

First  Church  in  Oregon HI 

Oregon  Institute • 128 

Willamette  University 260 


^ 


^r^f^mmnfv* 


•^mmw^^'  '    "J-  ■ 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


'  ♦•» 


CHAPTER  I. 

GENERAL   DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 

The  State  of  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory  are 
mainly  embraced  within  that  portion  of  the  great 
western  slope  of  the  North  American  Continent 
drained  and  watered  by  the  Columbia  River  and 
its  numerous  tributaries.  There  are,  however,  in 
the  northern  part  of  "Washington  Territory  a  few 
small  rivers,  watering  valleys  more  or  less  exten- 
sive, which  take  their  rise  in  the  cascade  rapge  of 
mountains,  and  empty  directly  into  the  Pacific 
Ocean  ;  and  there  are  also  a  few  valleys,  watered 
by  independent  rivers,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  State  of  Oregon  ;  but  by  far  the  greater  part  of 
both  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory  is  compre- 
hended in  the  great  valley  of  the  Columbia. 

In  the  general  description  of  this  country,  there- 
fore, it  will  be  necessary  to  embrace  both  of  these 
political  divisions  in  the  same  account.  Oregon  and 
Washington  Territory  comprehend  a  vast  extent  of 
country,  and  lie  within  the  following  boundary.    Com- 


p 


8 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


mcncing  at  the  northwest  corner  of  said  territory,  con- 
sider the  nortb  Hnc  as  extending  along  the  center  of 
the  Strait  of  Juan  do  Fuca  eastward,  the  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles ;  thence  northward  till 
it  strikes  the  forty-nintli  parallel  of  north  latitude ; 
thence  due  east  along  said  parallel  the  distance  of 
five  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  dividing  Wp«Uingtoii 
Territory  from  British  Columbia,  to  the  summit  of 
the  Bocky  Mountains ;  and  on  the  east,  the  line 
extends  along  the  summit  of  the  liocky  Mountains 
from  the  forty-ninth  to  the  forty-second  degree  of 
north  latitude ;  and  on  the  south,  the  line  runs  along 
on  the  forty-second  parallel,  and  near  the  summit  of 
the  Sisku  Mountains,  and  separating  Oregon  from 
California,  to  tlie  Pacific  Ocean;  and  on  the  west, 
the  Pacific  Ocean  is  the  boundary  from  Cape  Men- 
docino northward,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Strait  of  Juan 
de  Fuca,  the  place  of  beginning.  These  limits 
embrace  Idaho,  the  "  gem  of  the  mountains,"  which 
has  been  taken  off  from  the  southeastern  part  of 
what  was  at  first  "Washington  Territory,  and  lies 
directly  east  of  the  state  of  Oregon. 

The  northern  line,  separating  this  country  from 
British  Columbia  is  a  very  unnatural  one,  and  greatly 
to  the  disadvantage  of  the  United  States.  Any  one 
in  casting  his  eye  over  a  correct  map  of  the  country 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  will  discover  at  one 
glance  that  a  much  more  appropriate  division  than 
the  one  which  has  been  established  between  the  two 
countries  would  have  been  a  line  extending  from 
Puget's  Sound  northeastwardly  along  the  summit  of 


} 


OREGON   AND    ITS    INSTITUTIONS. 


9 


tho  high  lands  which  separate  the  waters  of  tlie 
Cohiinbia  River  from  those  of  Frazer's  lliver  to  the 
Rocky  I^tountains,  so  i-  to  embrace  in  Oregon  and 
Wasliington  Territ(  r^  all  the  country  drained  hy 
the  Columbia  ^ !  ■  ver.  This  would  have  given  a 
natural  boundary  to  tlte  country  on  all  sides,  while 
the  forty-ninth  paialici  ia  a  very  unnatural  one, 
because  it  cuts  the  great  valley  of  the  Columbia, 
leaving  the  upper  part  of  the  valley  in  the  British 
dominions,  and  tho  lower  part  in  the  United  States, 
thus  putting  asunder  that  which  the  God  of  nature 
has  joined  together. 

The  extent  of  the  area  embraced  in  the  boundary 
which  we  have  traced  will  measure  four  hundred 
thousand  square  miles:  sufficient  for  a  mighty  empire. 
It  will  be  perceived  that  we  do  not  take  into  con- 
sideration the  magnificent  state  of  California,  which 
alone  contains  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  square 
miles,  our  object  being  simply  a  clear  and  reliable 
description  of  that  portion  of  our  vast  sunset  domains 
lying  north  of  California  and  south  of  British  Colum- 
bia. This  country  has  six  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
of  coast  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  the  Strait  of  Juan 
de  Fuel,  and  Puget's  Sound. 

The  coast  itself  deserves  particular  notice.  The 
shores  of  the  Stiait  of  Fuca  are  mainly  composed 
of  beaches  of  sand  and  stones  overhung  by  sandy  and 
rocky  cliffs ;  and  from  these  the  land  ascends  grad- 
ually to  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  which  rise  abruptly 
to  a  great  height  within  a  few  miles  of  the  ocean. 
The    shores   along  the  Pacific  are  nearly   straight 


w 


10 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


from  nortli  to  south,  varying  but  a  few  degrees ;  but 
in  other  respects,  characterized  by  great  variety.  In 
some  places  the  coast  is  abrupt,  and  iron-bound  ;  in 
others,  it  is  composed  of  low  sand  beaches,  which, 
from  appearances,  seem  to  have  been  widening,  either 
by  an  accumulation  of  sand  for  untold  ages,  or, 
according  to  another  theory,  by  the  gradual  receding 
of  the  ocean  from  the  shore.  In  many  places,  along 
this  extended  coast,  this  accumulation  of  sand  has 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  undulating  plains,  which 
extend  back  some  miles  from  the  ocean,  and  finally 
become  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  various 
grasses,  weeds,  and  shrubbery.  A  particular  descrip- 
tion of  every  part  of  the  coast  possessing  these  char- 
acteristics would  extend  these  remarks  to  an  undue 
length ;  and,  therefore,  as  an  illustration  of  this  pecul- 
iarity of  the  Pacific  coast,  attention  is  invited  to  a 
somewhat  minute  account  of  the  Clatsop  Plains. 

These  plains  lie  on  the  south  side  of  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia  Eiver,  back  of  that  point  of  land 
known  by  the  name  of  Cape  Adams.  They  consti- 
tute that  low  tract  of  country  which  lies  in  the  form 
of  a  triangle,  one  of  wliose  sides  is  washed  by  the 
waves  of  the  Pacific,  and  the  other  by  those  of  Youngs' 
Bay ;  while  its  base  rests  against  the  range  of  mount- 
ains extendi'ng  back  from  Tilamook  Head,  and  its 
point,  or  apex,  is  washed  by  the  south  channel  of  the 
Columbia  River.  The  height  of  this  triangle,  or 
the  distance  from  Cape  Hancock  back  to  the  mount- 
ains, is  about  twenty-five  miles,  while  the  mean  width 
is  probably  not  more  than  four  miles.      The  plains 


u\ 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


11 


es,   or, 


themselves,  or  that  portion  of  this  triangle  not  covered 
with  timber,  is  about  twenty  miles  long,  and  from  one 
to  two  and  a  half  broad,  the  whole  tract  containing 
about  seventy  or  eighty  square  miles.  These  plains  lie 
directly  on,  and  open  beautifully  to,  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
and  command  a  fine  view  of  all  the  ships  that  pass  over 
the  bar  of  the  Columbia.  The  beautiful  sand  beach, 
extending  their  entire  length,  forms  at  low  water  a 
firm  and  commodious  road.  Between  these  open 
plains  and  Youngs'  Bay  is  a  tract  of  timbered  land, 
comprising  about  twice  as  much  as  the  plains,  but 
similar  in  every  other  respect,  except  the  dense  forest 
of  fir,  spruce,  pine,  cedar,  hemlock,  and  alder,  by 
which  it  is  shaded.  It  is  only  necessary  for  one  to 
walk  across  the  isthmus  from  Youngs'  Bay  to  the 
Pacific,  to  be  convinced  that  this  entire  tract,  and  all 
others  of  a  similar  character  on  the  coast,  have  been 
formed  by  the  vast  quantities  of  sands  and  vegetable 
substances  which  have  been  conveyed  from  time  imme- 
morial by  the  Columbia  River  to  the  ocean,  and 
deposited  by  the  ceaseless  action  of  the  tide.  The 
evidences  of  this  are,  first,  the  fact  that  the  soil  of 
the  plains  is  of  the  same  alluvial  character  that  ap- 
pears on  the  banks  of  the  river  above.  Secondly, 
from  the  several  ridges  or  undulations,  which  curve 
precisely  with  the  shores  of  the  ocean,  and  all  of 
which  appear  to  have  successively  formed  the  bound- 
ary of  tlie  great  deep.  And,  thirdly,  from  the  fact 
that  shells  and  other  marine  substances  are  found 
deeply  embedded  in  the  sands,  thus  deposited  in  a 
6'r'ite  of  perfect  petrifaction.      Indeed,  there  is  little 


12 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


i 


doubt  but  that  all  this  tract  of  land,  which  now  lies 
but  a  few  feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean,  was  once 
entirely  submerged,  and  by  the  causes  referred  to 
has  been  redeemed  from  the  ocean  bed,  and  consti- 
tuted a  delightful  place  for  the  residence  of  man. 

The  foundation  of  the  soil  of  these  plains  is  sand, 
and  in  many  places  this  sand  is  bare ;  but  even  here, 
where  the  winds  admit  of  vegetation  taking  root,  its 
growth  shows  clearly  that  this  sand  is  far  from  being 
destitute  of  vegetative  properties.  Generally,  how- 
ever, the  surface  of  this  land  is  composed  of  a  black 
mold,  which  is  from  six  to  ten  inches  deep,  and 
which,  doubtless,  has  been  formed  by  the  constant 
decay  of  various  kinds  of  vegetation,  which  here  grow 
in  abundance.  This  black  mold,  with  a  portion  of 
the  sand  beneath,  forms  a  rich  and  productive  soil, 
which,  from  its  proximity  to  the  ocean,  and  per- 
haps from  the  nature  of  the  soil  itself,  is  not  so  well 
adapted  to  wheat,  but  produces  peas,  oats,  potatoes, 
turnips,  and,  indeed,  all  kinds  of  vegetables  in  great 
abundance.  In  connection  with  these  dry  plains  are 
extensive  tracts  of  tide  land,  which  are  covered  with 
an  immense  growth  of  grass  and  at  low  water  are 
accessible  to  stock,  so  that  cattle,  horses,  and  hogs 
thrive  in  this  region  as  well  as  in  any  part  of  the 
country. 

Along  the  extended  coast  of  this  country  there  are 
many  scores,  and  it  would  not  be  varying  far  from 
the  truth  to  say  hundreds,  of  miles  of  land  similar  in 
nature  to  the  Clatsop  Plains  above  described.  On 
the  weather  beach  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Coli  i;- 


l|i 


'^ 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS 


13 


now  lies 
;^a8  once 
rred  to 
I  consti- 
:ian. 

is  sand, 

en  here, 

root,  its 

>m  being 

ily,  how- 

'  a  black 

jep,    and 

constant 

lere  grow 

ortion  of 

tive  soil, 

and  per- 

)t  so  well 

potatoes, 

in  great 

plains  are 

jred  with 

water  are 

and  hogs 

rt  of  the 

there  are 

far  from 

dmilar  in 

bed.     On 

LC  Coll  :):- 


bia,  in  Washington  Territor}'',  and  on  the  Oregon 
coast  at  the  mouth  of  Tilamook,  Salmon  River, 
Alsea,  Silets,  Umpqua,  Goose,  and  Coquille  Rivers, 
and  at  various  other  points,  are  to  be  found  tracts  of 
the  same  kind  of  land  extending  back  from  the  shore 
from  one  to  perhaps  five  miles,  in  some  places  bare 
of  timber,  and  covered  with  grass  and  sallal  bushes, 
and  in  others  with  an  immense  growth  of  the  forest 
trees  which  characterize  the  Pacific  coast.  There  are 
also  many  miles  of  coast  both  in  Washington  Terri- 
tory and  Oregon  which  are  rock  bound,  where  the 
mountains  extend  to  the  water's  edge,  and  w^tli  their 
overhanging  clifis  frown  down  upon  the  ever  rolling 
surges  of  the  Pacific  a  bold  defiance. 

There  are  other  portions  of  this  coast  different  from 
any  that  we  have  described.  The  land  rises  above 
the  alluvial  deposits  already  mentioned,  and  extends 
back  from  the  ocean  in  the  form  of  plains,  level  or 
inclined,  and  covered  with  magnificent  forests  of  fir, 
spruce,  cedar,  and  hemlock,  and  varying  in  widtli 
from  one  to  many  miles.  This  portion  of  the  coun- 
try is  considered  valuable  at  present,  mostly  on 
account  of  its  lumbering  facilities ;  but  the  time  will 
come,  doubtless,  when  the  timber  will  be  consumed, 
and  the  land,  now  so  wild  and  forbidding,  will  be 
cultivated,  and  teem  with  a  settled  population.  The 
appearance  of  the  coast  in  approaching  it  from  the 
ocean  is  indeed  rough  and  forbidding,  but  on  traversing 
it  from  Puget's  Sound  to  Cape  Mendocino  one  be- 
comes impressed  from  personal  observation  with  the 
facilities  which  it  oft'ers  for  extended  settlements  and 


fr 


i4 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


1' 
'I 


•i  1 


improvements,  and  its  natural  commercial  advan- 
tages. The  harbors  or  places  of  refuge  for  vessels 
along  the  coast  of  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory- 
are  not  very  numerous,  and,  if  we  except  a  few,  are 
not  of  the  first  quality.  Puget's  Sound,  with  its  nu- 
merous arms  and  inlets  stretching  far  inland,  consti- 
tutes one  of  the  finest  harbors  in  the  known  world, 
and  it  is  sufficiently  commodious  to  accommodate  all 
tlie  navies  in  existence.  There  is  nothing  to  bar  the 
way  of  vessels  of  the  largest  class  to  the  safest  possi- 
ble anchorages  anywhere  in  this  most  beautiful  body 
of  water  that  can  be  found  in  any  land.  At  some 
future  day,  M'lien  railroads  shall  have  been  con- 
structed everywhere,  Puget's  Sound  will  doubtless 
constitute  the  port  of  entry  for  the  northwest  coast. 
At  present,  however,  the  most  important  harbor  is 
that  formed  by  the  Columbia  River,  as  it  forms  the 
grand  entrepot  to  the  most  valuable  portions  of  the 
State  of  Oregon,  as  also  to  much  of  Was:  '  -^ton  Ter- 
ritory. This  harbor,  though  difficult  of  access  in  the 
winter  season,  when  the  prevailing  winds  on  the 
coast  are  from  the  south  and  east,  may  at  other 
seasons  be  safely  entered  by  vessels  drawing  not  more 
than  eighteen  feet.  The  mouth  of  this  harbor  is 
blockaded  by  a  sand  bar,  which  renders  the  naviga- 
tion difficult  and  dangerous.  The  channel  across 
this  bar,  which  was  formerly  used,  took  a  sweep 
around  close  under  Cape  Disappointment,  and  thence 
in  a  southerly  direction  about  three  miles,  where  it 
united  with  a  south  channel,  and  thus  the  two  chan- 
nels becoming  one,  their  course  across  the  last  and 


\\  i 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITJTIONS. 


15 


il  advan- 
)r  vessels 
Territory 
I  few,  are 
th  its  nu- 
d,  consti- 
vn  world, 
lodate  all 
;o  bar  the 
fest  possi- 
tiful  body 
At  some 
)een   con- 
doubtless 
est  coast, 
harbor  is 
forms  the 
)ns  of  the 
'^ton  Ter- 
iess  in  the 
Is  on   the 
■  at  other 
;  not  more 
harbor  is 
le  naviga- 
nel   across 
;   a  sweep 
md  thence 
i,  where  it 
two  chan- 
e  last  and 


most  formidable  bar  of  the  Columbia,  was  southwest 
by  west.  At  present,  however,  the  channel  runs  not 
far  from.  Cape  Hancock  in  a  southwest  direction,  the 
old  north  channel  being  filled  up  and  entirely  for- 
saken. • 

From  Cape  Hancock,  on  the  south  of  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia,  and  from  the  shore  around  and  a  little 
to  the  west  of  Cape  Disappointment  on  the  north 
side,  are  two  immense  sand  bars,  which,  converging 
toward  each  other,  meet  at  the  distance  of  about 
four  miles  from  each  cape,  and  form  that  fearful  ob- 
stacle to  the  navigation  of  these  waters,  the  bar  of 
the  Columbia.  The  channel  across  this  bar  is  five 
fathoms  deep,  and  a  half  of  a  mile  wide.  When  the 
wind  is  strong  from  the  south  and  west,  as  it  gener- 
ally is  in  the  winter  season,  the  waves  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  and  the  rushing  torrents  of  the  Columbia 
Kiver  meet  upon  this  with  the  most  terrific  violence, 
producing  a  line  of  breakers  often  extending  from 
one  cape  to  the  other,  and  calculated,  from  their 
frightful  appearance,  to  appall  even  the  heart  of  the 
storm-beaten  sailor.  Formerly  vessels  were  often 
detained  at  this  bar  for  many  days  together  to  wait 
for  an  opportunity  to  cross ;  but  now,  by  the  aid  of 
steam-tugs  and  skillful  pilots,  the  bar  is  navigated 
without  much  detention,  and  with  very  little  danger. 

While  describing  the  harbors  along  the  coast  it 
will  be  proper  to  mention  a  number  of  others  of  less 
note,  some  of  which  are  beginning  to  attract  atten- 
tion. Bulfinch's  Harbor,  discovered  by  Captain 
Robert  Gray,  of  Boston,  in  1792,  is  situated  forty 


16 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


miles  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Cohimbia,  and  by 
some  intproveraents  may  be  constituted  a  safe  an- 
chorage. Port  Discovery,  situated  near  the  southeast 
angle  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  is  pronounced  perfectly 
safe,  and  convenient  for  ships  of  any  size.  It  is  de- 
fended from  the  violence  of  the  ocean  storm  by  Pro- 
tection Island.  Tilamook  Bay,  some  fifty  miles 
south  of  Cape  Hancock,  is  accessible  to  small  craft, 
and  forms  an  entrepot  to  a  delightful  and  fertile  little 
valley,  which  opens  beautifully  to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
At  the  mouth  of  the  Umpqua  liiver^  one  hundred 
miles  south  of  Tilamook  Bay,  there  is  a  tolerable 
harbor  for  small  craft,  and  the  channel  across  the  bar 
will  admit  of  the  entrance  of  vessels  drawing  eight  or 
ten  feet. 

The  Bay  of  Yaquina,  midway  between  Tilamook 
and  Umpqua,  is  now  being  visited  by  small  vessels, 
and  something  of  a  trade  has  already  been  established 
between  it  and  other  portions  of  the  coast.  It  is  easy 
of  access,  and  will  probably  one  day  constitute  the 
port  of  entry  for  Benton  County,  and  perhaps  some 
other  portions  of  the  Willamette  Valley.  It  is  at- 
tracting considerable  attention,  and  already  improv- 
ing settlements  are  springing  up  on  and  near  the 
shores  of  the  bay. 

Twenty  miles  south  of  the  Umpqua  River  you 
come  to  Coose  Bay,  which  constitutes  a  fine  harbor 
for  vessels  which  do  not  require  more  than  ten  or 
twelve  feet  of  water.  This  bay  is  a  most  beautiful 
body  of  water,  and  extends  up  into  the  country  forty 
or  fifty  miles ;  and  on  its  shores  arc  already  estab- 


^■li^r^wr  i^vm  «_iw,pii  m"",.-  ■    i 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


17 


,  and  by 
safe  an- 
loutlieast 
perfectly 
It  is  de- 
L  by  Pro- 
'ty   miles 
all  craft, 
'tile  little 
Lc  Ocean, 
hundred 
tolerable 
5S  the  bar 
r  eight  or 

Tilamook 
11  vessels, 
stablished 
It  is  easy 
titute  the 
laps  some 

It  is  at- 
y  improv- 

near  the 


lished  several  extensive  lumber  manufactories,  and 
quite  a  trade  is  carried  on  between  it  and  San  Fran- 
cisco. This  bay  is  important  for  various  reasons.  It 
not  only  affords  facilities  for  the  exportation  of  untold 
quantities  of  the  finest  lumber,  but  is  also  the  channel 
of  entrance  to  an  extensive  country  watered  by  the 
Coose  and  Coquille  rivers  and  their  tributaries,  which 
is  destined  in  the  future  to  contain  a  very  heavy 
population. 


River  you 
ne  harbor 
lan  ten  or 
t  beautiful 
mtry  forty 
ady  estab- 


1 


n 


III 


;■  1 


18 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


-  £APTER  II. 

THE   CAPES  AND   COAST   RANGE   OF  MOUNTAINS. 

There  are  but  few  capes  along  this  extended  coasf, 
and  none  that  project  far  into  the  ocean.  The  prin- 
cipal are  Cape  Blanco,  Cape  Hancock,  Cape  Mendo- 
cino, Cape  Adams,  and  Cape  Flattery.  Cape  Blanco 
is  a  high  point  of  land  extending  into  the  ocean  be- 
tween the  Rogue  and  Umpqua  Rivers,  and  nearly 
under  the  forty-third  parallel  of  north  latitude. 
Cape  Adams  is  a  low  sandy  point,  the  terminus  of 
Clatsop  Plains,  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia  River.  Cape  Hancock  is  a  high  point 
of  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  Columbia,  and, 
though  three  miles  inside  of  the  dreaded  bar  of  that 
river,  holds  a  very  prominent  place  on  all  our  maps 
and  charts,  as  from  its  peculiar  location,  and  the 
appearance  of  the  majestic  fir  trees  -which  adorn  its 
summit,  but  more  especially  from  the  fact  that  every 
night  from  its  rounded  top 

"  The  blazo  of  the  hghthouse  looks  lovely  ashore, 
Like  a  star  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean," 

it  forms  an  unerring  guide  to  the  storm-beaten 
sailor  who  is  desirous  of  seeking  shelter  in  the 
quiet  and  peaceful  waters  of  Baker's  Bay.  Cape 
Flattery  is  a  high  point  of  land  marking  the  ter- 
minus of  Washington  Territory  on  the  south  side  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fnca.     Though 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


19 


TAINS. 

led  coasi, 
The  prin- 
e  Meiido- 
pe  Blanco 
ocean  be- 
nd nearly 

latitude, 
rminus  of 
I  month  of 
ligh  point 
iibia,  and, 
lar  of  that 

our  maps 
[,  and  the 
L  adorn  its 
that  every 

ore, 

3rm-beaten 
;er  in  the 
Jay.  Cape 
ig  the  ter- 
luth  side  of 
I.     Though 


there  are  other  points  along  the  coast  called  capes, 
these  are  all  that  are  worthy  of  particular  mention. 

'There  are  no  islands  of  importance  along  th'.o  coast, 
if  you  except  those  situated  in  the  Strait  of  Fuca  and 
Puget's  Sound.  Of  those  in  this  region  Whidby's 
Island  is  by  far  the  most  valuable.  This  island 
forms  a  county  in  Washington  Territory,  and  con- 
tains a  population  of  four  hundred  souls.  It  is  beau- 
tiful and  fertile,  and  one  of  the  most  delightful  and 
healthy  localities  imaginable. 

Having  traced  tlie  boundary,  and  given  the  dimen- 
sions, and  described  to  some  extent  the  character  of 
the  immediate  coast  of  this  magnificent  country,  we 
now  proceed  to  examine  it  in  its  more  general  char- 
acter. The  first  thing  to  which  attention  is  directed 
is  its  remarkable  topography.  A  just  description  of 
the  surface  of  this  country — one  to  the  life — so  that  a 
person  never  having  been  in  the  country  would  be 
able  to  form  a  correct  idea  of  it  from  reading,  would 
probably  be  impossible;  an  approximation  toward 
the  reality  is  all  that  we  propose  to  furnish.  The 
face  of  this  country  is  indeed  most  wonderfully  diver- 
sified ;  and  presents  to  the  eye  of  the  lover  of  nature 
every  variety  of  scenery,  from  the  most  awfully  grand 
and  sublime  to  the  most  beautiful  and  picturesque  in 
nature.  Almost  everything  in  relation  to  the  coun- 
try is  upon  a  grand  scale.  The  mountains  are  grand, 
the  valleys  are  grand,  the  forests  are  grand,  the  rivers 
are  grand,  and  the  hills  are  little  mountains. 

In  "Washington  Territory,  extending  back  from 
Puget's  Sound  for  many  miles,  the  country  is  level 


20 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


and  beautiful,  a  considerable  portion  of  it  prairie 
land,  and  the  remainder  covered  with  magnificent 
forests  ;  but  on  approaching  the  coast  on  a  vessel  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River  ridges  of  high 
lands  appear  on  either  hand  as  far  as  the  eye  can 
reach,  and  tlie  more  elevated  points  serve  as  land- 
marks to  guide  the  mariner  into  a  haven  of  safety. 
These  ridges,  which  constitute  the  first  land  which 
rises  above  the  surface  of  the  water  to  one  approach- 
ing the  coast  from  sea,  are  parts  of  that  range  of 
mountains  known  as  the  Coast  Range.  This  range 
of  mountains  extends  from  near  Cape  Flattery,  in 
"Washington  Territory,  all  along  the  coast  to  the 
Columbia  River,  and  thence  the  whole  extent  of  the 
State  of  Oregon  to  the  line  of  California.  It  is 
pierced  by  all  the  rivers  that  flow  directly  into  the 
Pacific,  and  hence  the  outlines  of  the  range  appear 
very  broken.  At  points  the  waves  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  dash  impotently  against  their  rocky  base ;  but 
generally  along  the  coast  they  commence  their  grad- 
ual rise  from  one  to  five  miles  from  the  shore,  and 
continue  to  rise  in  the  same  manner  nntil  they  attain 
their  highest  elevation,  which  is  from  four  to  six 
thousand  feet.  They  cover  a  surface  from  the  Pacific 
back  into  the  interior  of  from  thirty  to  forty  miles  in 
width.  A  great  portion  of  this  extent,  however,  is 
comprised  in  the  numerous  valleys  and  depressions  in 
the  mountains,  more  or  less  extensive,  and  through 
which  meander  the  limped  brook  and  rivulet,  where 
the  deer  and  the  elk  slake  their  thirst,  and  in  whose 
waters  in  their  season  glisten  the  silvery  sides  of  the 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


21 


praine 

nificent 

cssel  at 

of  liif^li 

eye  can 

as  land- 

f  safety. 

I  whicli 

iproacli- 

range  of 

lis  range 

ttery,  in 

t  to  the 

nt  of  the 

a.     It  is 

•  into  the 

^e  appear 

le  Pacific 

base;  but 

beir  grad- 

ihore,  and 

hey  attain 

»ur  to  six 

lie  Pacific 

y  miles  in 

owever,  is 

ressions  in 

d  through 

ilet,  where 

1  in  whose 

ides  of  the 


rich  and  luscious  salmon.  It  will  be  seen  by  a  slight 
arithmetical  calculation  that  this  mountain  range 
comprehends  about  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand  square 
miles  ;  but  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  this  vast 
extent  of  country,  larger  than  some  of  the  states  of 
our  Union,  is  a  barren  waste,  for  really,  in  the  val- 
leys and  on  the  mountain  sides,  and  even  upon  the 
tops  of  the  highest  mountains,  the  soil  is  good. 
Some  of  the  higher  elevations  in  this  range  are 
worthy  of  particular  note. 

The  most  remarkable  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Colum- 
bia River  is  one  called  by  the  Indians  Swallalahoost, 
concerning  which  they  have  a  singular  tradition. 
One  of  their  great  and  mighty  chiefs  a  long  time  ago, 
according  to  the  tradition,  after  having  accomplished 
the  most  wonderful  explou^  in  behalf  of  his  people, 
was  finally  killed  by  his  enemies ;  but  after  death  he 
assumed  the  form  of  a  monstrous  eagle,  and,  taking 
wing,  flew  to  the  top  of  this  mountain,  and  there 
became  the  creator  of  the  lightning  and  the  thunder. 
From  this  tradition,  as  well  as  from  the  appearance 
of  the  mountain,  it  is  supposed  by  some  that  it  might 
probably  have  once  been  an  active  volcano.  Com- 
modore Wilkes,  on  his  exploring  visit  to  the  country 
in  1842,  gave  it  the  name  of  "  Saddle  Mountain," 
from  the  resemblance  of  its  top  to  the  shape  of  a 
saddle. 

Some  ten  miles  to  the  southwest  of  the  city  of 
Corvallis,  so  named  from  the  fact  that  it  occupies 
the  center,  or  heart  of  the  valley,  rises  the  rounded 
summit  of  the  most  graceful  and  beautiful  mountain 


I'  I 


(      , 


22 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


belonging  to  tlie  Const  Range,  and  known  by  tbc  name 
of  "  Mary's  Peak."  A  very  trifling  circumstance  gave 
name  to  this  mountain. 

There  is  a  small  river  which  empties  into  the  Wil- 
lamette Eiver  near  tlie  city  of  Corvallis.  Tliis  river 
in  an  early  day  had  to  be  forded  by  travelers  in  pass- 
ing through  the  country.  It  happened  that  in  con- 
nection with  one  of  the  earliest  parties  that  traveled 
through  to  California  was  an  Indian  woman  1  the 
name  of  Mary,  who  was  the  wife  of  a  white  man. 
When  the  company  reached  this  river,  Mary  was  rid- 
ing a  very  stuborn  and  willful  mule,  which  she  found 
it  quite  difficult  to  manage.  The  mule,  it  seems,  was 
very  unwilling  to  go  into  the  stream  ;  but  at  length, 
by  whipping  and  scolding,  and  belaboring  in  various 
wavs,  he  became  excited,  and  rushed  into  the 
stream  with  great  violence,  where  the  water  was  so 
deep  that  donkey,  Mary,  and  all  went  under,  and  had 
to  strive  hard  for  life.  After  struggling  some  time 
in  the  water,  poor  Mary  and  her  mule  were  brought 
safe  to  shore.  Subsequently,  when  the  company  had 
occasion  to  refer  to  this  locality  from  this  catastrophe, 
they  invariably  called  the  river  "  Mary's  River," 
and  this  name  was  soon  adopted  throughout  the 
whole  country.  Now  Mary's  River  takes  its  rise  in 
the  Coast  Range  of  mountains,  and  some  of  itj  princi- 
pal branches  are  from  the  reservoirs  of  Mary's  Peak. 
Thus  the  name  of  the  river  issuing  from  this  mount- 
ain was  very  naturally  transferred  to  the  mountain 
itself  Mary's  Peak  is  perhaps  the  highest  point  in 
the  Coast  Range,  and  overlooks  a  vast  extent  of  couu- 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


ii3 


ic  niinie 

1 

ice  gave 

1 

;he  Wil- 

^ 

lis  river 

1 

in  pass- 

J 

t  in  con- 

H 

traveled 

M 

1  1     the 

m 

to  man. 

Jj 

was  rid- 

1 

le  found 

■/-J 

ems,  was 

;  length, 

r. 

1  various 

into    the 

^ 

ir  was  so 

-': 

and  had 

.^ 

)me  time 

;■' 

!  brought 

mny  had 

' 

astrophe. 

i 

Eiver," 

■| 

lOut   the 

M 

its  rise  in 

'1 

itJ  princi- 

% 

y's  Peak. 

m 

8  mount- 

M 

mountain 

M 

point  in 

M 

t  of  coun- 

Ji 

try ;  and  the  writer  that  will  attempt  to  j)ortray  clio 
ficenery  that  presents  itself  to  the  astonished  vision 
of  one  standing  uj)on  its  summit  has  more  confidence 
in  his  powers  of  delineation  than  the  author  of  this 
sketch  has  in  his  own.  The  reader  who  has  not 
the  privilege  of  visiting  rhebald  top  of  this  beautiful 
mountain,  and  gaze  upon  the  scenery  for  himself, 
must  be  satisfied  to  know  that  it  absolutely  beggars 
description.  The  summit  of  this  mountain  is  becom- 
ing quite  a  resort  for  pleasure  seekers,  and  admirers 
of  the  romantic  and  sublime  in  nature,  and  there  is  a 
tolerable  bridle  path  to  it.  On  the  top,  inclining  a 
little  to  the  south  and  east,  is  a  section  of  a  mile 
square  or  more  of  excellent  prairie  land,  covered  late 
in  the  season  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  grass. 
Snow  remains  upon  the  summit  generally  until  the 
middle  of  June,  and  it  is  often  an  excellent  place  to 
manufacture  ice-cream  on  the  Fourth  of  July.  Im- 
mediately on  the  disappearance  of  the  snow  the  sum- 
mit assumes  a  beautiful  green  ;  but  whether  white- 
capped,  or  crowned  with  verdure,  it  ever  presents 
itself  as  an  object  of  interest  to  every  lover  of  fine 
scenery.  The  cultivable  character  of  a  great  portion 
of  the  land  of  this  mountain  region,  in  connection 
with  the  fact  that  great  portions  of  the  country  are 
covered  with  an  immense  growth  of  excellent  timber, 
would  be  of  itself  sufiicient  to  stamp  it  with  great 
value ;  but  discoveries  have  been  made  recently 
which  show  clearly  that  vast  mineral  treasures  also 
lie  embedded  in  the  midst  of  these  mountains. 
For  some  years  past  gold  has  been  found  in  paying 


24 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


'  !      I 


*) 


H 


iillt 


quantities  in  various  parts  of  this  range,  especially 
on  the  Coquille,  and  on  the  lower  part,  and  at  the 
mouth  of  Rogue  River.  This  has  led  many  to  sup- 
pose, with  good  reason,  that  it  in  all  probability  will 
be  found  in  many  other  parts  of  the  range.  Besides 
this,  silver,  copper,  iron,  and  coal  have  been  found, 
most  of  them  in  considerable  quantities.  Coal 
especially  has  been  discovered  of  late  in  the  vicinity 
of  Coose  Bay  in  inexhaustible  quantities,  and  mining 
is  already  carried  on  in  the  coal  beds  with  considerable 
success.  Indeed,  there  can  be  no  question  that  the 
Coast  Range  of  mountains,  which  has  hitherto  been 
considered  as  a  great  objection  to  our  country,  will, 
when  properly  understood  and  developed,  and  its 
eligible  parts  shall  be  occupied,  as  doubtless  they  will 
be,  by  an  industrious  population,  become  a  source  of 
immense  wealth  to  the  different  states  with  which 
they  are  connected,  and,  perhaps,  render  them  even 
more  valuable  than  they  would  be  if  the  mountains 
were  not  there. 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


25 


especially 

nd  at  the 

y  to  siip- 

jility  will 

Besides 

en  found, 

s.      Coal 

e  vicinity 

id  mining 

nsiderable 

I  that  the 

lerto  been 

ntry,  will, 

I,  and  its 

3  they  will 

I  source  of 

;ith  which 

:hein  even 

mountains 


CHAPTEE  III. 

THE  LOWER  VALLEYS  AND  THE  CASCADE  MOUNTAINS. 

Having  left  the  coast,  and  passed  over  this  range 
oi*  mountains,  you  descend  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Columbia  into  the  valley  of  the  Cowilitz,  and 
on  the  south  into  that  of  the  "Willamette  River; 
and  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  of  Oregon, 
you  come  down  into  the  valleys  watered  by  the 
Ump(|ua  and  Rogue  Rivers  and  their  numerous 
tributaries. 

The  Cowilitz  valley  forms  an  important  part  of 
the  agricultural  portion  of  "VVashingtori  Territory. 
It  is  about  fifty  miles  long,  and  varies  in  breadth 
from  ten  to  twenty  miles.  It  is  watered  by  a  river 
of  the  same  name,  which  flows  down  from  one  of  the 
magnificent  glaciers  of  the  Cascade  Range,  known  as 
St.  Helen's.  The  river  discharges  itself  into  the 
Columbia  some  sixty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  tliat 
stream.  This  valley  is  one  of  the  oldest  settled 
valleys  on  the  Pacific  coast,  attracting  at  an  early 
day,  by  its  great  beauty  and  fertility,  the  attention 
of  the  members  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Comphny. 

The  Chehalis  River,  which  discharges  its  waters 
into  the  Pacific  Ocean  through  Shoal  Water  Bay, 
runs  through  another  delightful  portion  of  Washing- 
ton  Territory,   fertilizing  a  valley  of  many  miles  in 


;!    ! 


i 


14 


m 


in 


i|! 


26 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


length.     It  is   already  occupied   by  an   industrious 
and  thriving  population. 

The  valley  of  "Wliite  River,  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  Territory,  is  also  an  interesting  and  valuable  lo- 
cality. Besides  these  there  are  also  many  other  val- 
leys and  plains  in  various  parts  of  the  Territory, 
which  together  render  this  portion  of  the  Pacific 
coast  not  only  beautiful  and  interesting,  but  valuable 
as  a  place  of  settlement. 

The  Willamette  Yalley,  in  the  state  of  Oregon,  is  by 
far  the  most  extensive  and  important  valley  on  the 
northwest  Pacific  coast.  This  valley  lies  between 
the  Coast  Eange  of  mountains  on  the  west,  and  the 
Cascade  Range  on  the  east.  On  the  south  it  is  sep- 
arated from  the  Umpqua  Valley  by  the  Callapooia 
Mountains,  and  northward  it  extends  to  the  Colum- 
bia River.  In  round  numbers  it  is  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  long,  and  fifty  broad.  This  boundary  em- 
braces the  foot  hills  extending  down  from  the  mount- 
ains on  either  side  of  the  valley,  and  the  small  valleys 
watered  by  the  numerous  tributaries  of  the  main 
river.  This  calculation,  wliicli  is  a  careful  one,  gives 
the  valley  seven  thousand  five  hundred  square  miles. 
This,  reduced  to  acres,  would  show  that  the  Willa- 
mette Yalley  contains  four  million  eight  hundred 
thousand  acres  of  land.  Suppose  that  five  acres  of 
land  were  sufficient  to  support  one  person,  the  Willa- 
mette Valley,  at  that  rate  aiv^ne,  would  support  a 
population  of  one  million  of  people.  But,  to  a  cor- 
rect understanding  of  the  valley,  especially  to  those 
who  have  never  been  delighted  with  surveying  its 


OREGOX  .\J^D   ITS  IXSTITUTIONS. 


27 


ndustrious 

rn  part  of 
tillable  lo- 
other  val- 
Territoiy, 
he  Pacific 
it  valuable 

egon,  is  by 
ley  on  the 
between 
it,  and  the 
i  it  is  sep- 
Callapooia 
he  Coliira- 
[ndred  and 
;ndary  em- 
;he  niount- 
lall  vallej'^s 
the  main 
one,  gives 
lare  miles, 
the  Willa- 
t  hundred 
e  acres  of 
the  Willa- 
support  a 
,  to  a  cor- 
y  to  those 
'veying  its 


unrivaled  scenery,  it  will  be  necessary  to  give  it  a 
more  particular  description.  The  Willamette  River, 
by  which,  with  its  numerous  tributaries,  the  valley  is 
watered,  takes  its  rise  in  two  ranges  of  mountains, 
the  Coast  Range  on  the  west,  and  Cascade  Range  on 
the  east  side  of  the  valley,  and  after  meandering  the 
distance  of  two  hundred  miles  or  more  from  its 
source,  its  main  course  being  nearly  due  north,  and 
reaching  to  within  three  miles  of  the  Columbia 
River,  it  then  divides  into  two  branches,  the  upper 
branch  entering  the  Columbia  six  miles  below  the 
city  of  Vancouver,  and  ninety  miles  from  the  mouth 
of  that  river,  and  the  lower  branch,  which  is  the 
Multnomah  of  Lewis  and  Clark,  eighteen  miles  fur- 
ther down.  As  the  lower  branch  takes  quite  a  swing 
inland,  there  is  quite  an  island  between  the  branches, 
formerly  called  Wapatoo,  from  an  edible  root  found 
growing  in  abundance  upon  it.  This  island  is  about 
five  miles  broad  and  twenty  long,  and  of  great  fer- 
tility. It  is  now  called  "  Sauvies'  Island."  And 
now,  commencing  at  the  northern  extremity  on  the 
Columbia  River,  we  will  take  a  more  particular  sur- 
vey of  the  Willamette  Yalley,  and  as  we  advance  up 
the  river  we  will  note  everything  of  interest  in  rela- 
tion to  the  stream  itself,  and  the  country  through 
which  it  flows,  so  that  the  reader  shall  be  able  to 
form  a  correct  idea  of  this  most  desirable  portion 
of  the  countries  washed  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

The  waters  of  the  Willamette  flow  in  about  equal 
proportions  into  the  Columbia  River  through  the  two 
channels  already  mentioned,  and  both  channels  will 


T 


i 


28 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


!1        'I' 


admit  of  tlie  passage  of  steamboats  of  a  large  size. 
At  the  confluence  of  tlie  lower  channel  with  the  Co- 
lumbia, on  the  left  hand  shore,  and  commanding  a 
fine  view  of  both  rivers,  stands  the  town  of  Spint 
Tlelens.  This  town  occupies  a  beautiful  locality,  on  an 
elevated  plain  above  all  danger  from  inundation,  and 
in  the  future  developments  of  the  country  is  destined 
to  take  a  leading  position  among  the  rival  towns  of 
the  state.  The  plains,  at  the  lower  end  of  which 
stands  St.  ilelens,  extends  some  ten  miles  up  the 
Multnomah  branch  of  the  Willamette,  and  vary  in 
width  from  one  to  four  miles.  They  are  called  the 
Scappoose  Plains,  and  they  are  separated  from  the 
Tuality  Plains  by  an  elevated  spur  of  the  Coast  Eange 
called  the  Scappoose  Mountains,  which  are  twelve 
miles  across,  and  over  which  there  is  now  a  good 
mountain  road. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  this  branch  lies  Wap- 
ato  Island,  already  mentioned,  most  of  which  is  low 
land,  and  subject  to  ovei-flows  by  the  Columbia  River. 
It  is  quite  densely  populated,  as  there  are  many 
points  of  land  so  high  that  it  is  thought  safe  to  erect 
dwellings  upon  them. 

Having  ascended  the  Multnomah  branch  twenty 
miles,  we  are  now  at  the  point  where  the  river  di- 
vides, and  within  tlu-ee  miles  of  the  mouth  of  the 
upper  branch.  Here,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  AVil- 
lamette,  and  extending  to  the  Columbia,  the  land  is 
low,  and  subject  to  annual  overflows.  From  the 
amazing  fertility  of  this  land,  and  the  abundance  of 
grass  which  grows  after  the  overflow  passes  away. 


. 


m 


OREGO^r  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


29 


large  size. 

itli  the  Co- 
nn aiiding  a 
^n  of  Spint 

ality,  on  an 
idation,  and 
r  is  destined 
al  towns  of 
d  of  which 
liles  up  the 
md  vary  in 
3  called  the 
id  from  the 
^oast  Hange 

are  twelve 
now  a  good 

I  lies  "Wap- 
kvhich  is  low 
imbia  River. 
3  are  many 
safe  to  erect 

inch  twenty 
the  river  di- 
Louth  of  the 
jofthe  Wil- 
,  the  land  is 
From  the 
bundance  of 
)asses  away, 


and  continues  fresh  during  the  rest  of  the  year,  even 
after  many  other  portions  of  the  country  are  literally 
dried  up,  it  is  considered  as  possessing  equal  value 
with  many  other  kinds  which  are  souglit  after  with 
much  more  avidity.  On  leaving  the  bottom  lands  in 
our  progress  up  the  river  on  the  eastern  side  we  come 
to  a  more  elevated  tract  of  a  very  different  quality. 
It  rises  to  some  hundred  feet,  more  or  less,  above  the 
waters  of  the  river,  and  then  extends  off  in  a  some- 
what level  plain,  the  distance  of  twelve  or  fifteen 
miles,  to  another  river  known  as  Quicksand,  or 
Sandy,  which  empties  also  into  the  Columbia.  This 
tract,  which  lies  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from 
the  city  of  Portland,  and  extends  southward  ten 
miles  to  the  Clackamas,  and  eastward  to  the  Cascade 
Mountains,  comprehends  an  excellent  variety  of  soil, 
but  it  is  mainly  covered  with  a  heavy  fir  and  cedar 
forest.  Powell's  Valley,  which  is  a  very  fertile  de- 
pression, is  situated  in  this  tract.  It  is  variegated 
with  elevations,  some  of  which  pious  people  have 
honored  with  distinguished  names.  Here  is  Mount 
Zion,  and  here  also  is  Mount  Pisgah. 

On  the  west  bank  of  the  Willamette  River,  and 
thirty  miles  from  the  lower  mouth,  and  twelve  from 
the  upper  mouth  of  the  river,  is  the  city  of  Portland, 
the  present  commercial  emporium  of  the  state  of 
Oregon.  This  city  will  be  described  particularly  in 
connection  with  the  counties.  The  bottom  upon 
wliich  the  city  is  located  is  narrow,  it  being  but  one 
mile  from  the  water's  edge  to  the  foot  of  the  range 
of  hills  lying  back  of  the  city.     These  liills  continue 


I '  li 


30 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


for  a  few  miles  to  the  west  of  the  city,  and  tlicn  set- 
tling away  in  gentle  undulations,  finally  lower  down 
in4;o  what  are  called  the  Tuality  Plains.  This  region 
between  Portland  and  the  plains,  though  covered 
with  heavy  timber,  is  found  by  cultivation  to  bo 
rich  and  productive. 

Eight  miles  above  the  city  of  Portland,  on  the  same 
side  of  the  river,  is  the  little  town  called  Oswego, 
which  has  been  struggling  for  notoriety  in  various 
ways,  and  which  seems  likely  now  to  realize  its 
wishes,  in  the  fact  that  it  has,  on  account  of  the  dis- 
covery of  rich  iron  ore  in  the  vicinity,  become  the 
locality  of  the  "  Oregon  Iron  Works."  These  works, 
w^hich  are  owned  by  some  of  the  wealthiest  men  in 
the  state,  have  recently  been  put  in  operation,  and 
are  capable  of  turning  out  twelve  tons  of  iron  per 
day.  The  ore  used  is  taken  from  the  hills  from  one 
quarter  of  a  mile  to  two  miles  distant  from  the  works, 
and  yields  from  fifty-five  to  ninety  per  cent,  of  iron. 
The  company  has  in  its  employment  from  eighty  to 
one  hundred  men  as  miners,  coal-burners,  heav- 
ers, teamsters,  and  artisans  at  the  works.  The  iron 
produced  is  said  by  competent  judges  to  be  equal  in 
quality  to  any  made  in  any  part  of  the  United  States. 
It  is  very  soft  and  fine  in  grain,  and,  it  is  said,  might 
be  worked  oft"  into  castings  for  machinery  as  run 
from  the  furnace.  This  establishment  is  very  prop- 
erly regarded  as  an  important  adjunct  to  the 
wealth  of  the  country,  and  especially  to  this  par- 
ticular locality. 

Passing  up  the  river  from  Oswego  four  miles,  we 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


31 


id  then  set- 
lower  down 
This  rejjjioii 
"•h  covered 
ition    to  be 

on  the  same 
ed  Oswego, 
in  various 
realize  its 
t  of  the  dis- 
becorne  the 
'hese  works, 
iest  men  in 
3ration,  and 
of  iron  per 
lis  from  one 
Q  the  works, 
ent.  of  iron, 
m  eighty  to 
rnei's,  lieav- 
.  The  iron 
be  equal  in 
tilted  States. 
I  said,  might 
lery  as  run 
8  very  prop- 
net  to  the 
to  this  par- 


jr  miles,  we 


reach  a  point  opposite  Oregon  City,  where  once 
stood  a  rival  city  by  the  name  of  Linn.  The  rocks, 
however,  upon  which  Linn  was  built  were  too  low 
for  the  safety  of  the  city,  and  consequently  have  been 
swept  clean  by  the  swelling  floods  of  the  "Willamette 
River. 

Two  miles  above  this  we  reach  the  Tuality  Eiver, 
which  flows  into  the  Willamette  from  the  west.  This 
river  rises  in  the  Coast  Range  of  mountains  in  nu- 
merous streamlets  which  water  the  fertile  and  ex- 
tended plains  which,  after  the  name  of  the  river,  are 
called  the  Tuality  Plains.  These  streamlets,  flowing 
into  each  other  twenty  miles  from  the  Willamette, 
constitute  a  fine  little  river  of  great  importance  to 
this  portion  of  the  country,  as  it  can  easily  be  made 
navigable  for  boats  far  into  the  plains,  while  the 
branches  above  the  junction  thirty  and  forty  miles 
from  the  Willamette  River  may  be  advantageously 
used  for  the  purpose  of  driving  diflerent  kinds  of 
machinery.  The  Tuality  Plains,  from  their  impor- 
tance, dema^id  a  more  particular  notice.  They  exist 
in  a  circular  form,  somewhat  irregular  on  the  rim  of 
the  circle ;  the  diameter  of  the  circle,  embracing  the 
flat  timbered  lands  around  the  borders,  being  about 
twenty-five  miles.  From  the  top  of  one  of  the 
elevations  commanding  a  view  of  these  plains  they 
present  the  appearance  of  a  vast  natural  amphitheater, 
whose  walls  are  mountains,  and  whose  dome  is  the 
azure  blue.  These  plains  are  beautiful  and  fertile  ; 
in  some  places  undulating,  in  others  level.  This  area 
embraces  one  of  the  most  thickly  settled  portions  of 


^w 


! 


! 

I 


! 


Ill 


i   r 


82 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


the  Willamette  Yalley,  It  comprises  in  beautitui 
proportions  both  prairie  and  wood  land,  and  from 
its  advantageons  position,  extending  as  it  does  to 
within  a  few  miles  of  the  Willamette  River,  and  con- 
nected with  Portland  by  good  roads,  constitutes  one 
of  the  most  valuable  portions  of  the  country. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  Wil- 
lamette, and  take  some  observations  there.  Twenty- 
four  miles  above  the  upper  mouth  of  the  Willamette, 
and  twelve  above  Portland,  comes  dancing  down  the 
rocks  from  the  eastward  the  Clackamas  River.  This 
river  rises  in  the  Cascade  Mountains,  its  principal 
waters  being  supplied  by  the  reservoirs  of  Mount 
Hood.  It  passes  through  a  country  variegated  by 
hills  and  valleys,  plains  and  rising  grounds.  Portions 
of  the  country  watered  by  this  stream  are  superior  as 
to  richness  of  soil,  and  other  portions  not  so  good. 
The  river  runs  the  distance  of  some  seventy-five 
miles  from  its  source  to  where  it  mingles  its  waters 
with  those  of  the  Willamette.  Two  miles  above  this 
river,  near  the  falls  of  the  Willamette,  wc^reach  a  very 
pleasantly  located  town  known  as  Oregon  City.  At 
this  place  the  Willamette  River  rushes  over  a  precipice 
of  rocks  thirty  feet  perpendicular.  This  is  a  most 
.beautiful  cataract,  and  the  hydraulic  privileges  which 
it  affords  are  almost  boundless.  A  woolen  factory 
built  of  brick,  presenting  a  noble  and  most  substan- 
tial appearance,  running  six  sets  of  machinery,  and 
employing  one  hundred  and  fifty  hands;  a  paper 
mill,  a  foundery,  and  extensive  flouring  mills,  together 
witli  other  manufacturing  establishments,  have   al- 


OKEGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


33 


beaiititiii 
nd  froni 
does  to 
and  con- 
tutcs  one 

the  Wil- 

Twentj- 

llainette, 
down  the 
er.     This 

principal 
)f  Mount 
gated  by 

Portions 
iperior  as 

so  good, 
venty-five 
its  waters 
above  this 
ach  a  very 
Dity.  At 
,  precipice 
is  a  most 
ges  which 
in  factory 
t  substan- 
nery,  and 
a  paper 
i,  together 

have   al- 


ready given  to  this  city  the  soubriq^uet  of  the  "  Lowell 
of  Oregon." 

Continuing  up  tbe  river  on  the  eastern  bank 
the  distance  of  ten  miles  above  Oregon  City,  we 
ooine  to  the  Molalla  and  Pudding  rivers,  which  unite 
their  waters  just  before  flowing  into  the  Willamette. 
These  rivers  also  rise  in  the  Cascade  Mountains. 
They  both  water  beautiful  and  extensive  plains  in  their 
serpentine  course  to  the  Willamette.  Fifteen  miles 
above  the  Pudding  River,  on  the  western  shore  of 
the  Willamette,  we  come  to  Yamhill  River,  which 
rises  in  the  Coast  Range  of  mountains,  and  after 
meandering  for  more  than  fifty  miles  in  a  northeast- 
wardly direction,  through  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
and  fertile  portions  of  the  valley,  collecting  together 
the  numerous  tributaries  which  water  the  extended 
plains  through  which  they  flow,  it  rushes  down  a 
ledge  of  rocks  a  few  feet,  forming  a  beautiful  cascade, 
and  then  hastens  to  mingle  its  waters  with  the  main 
river  of  the  valley. 

Again  moving  camp,  and  continuing  up  the 
valley,  and  passing  a  number  of  small  branches  on 
each  side,  we  at  length  reach  a  point  twenty-two 
miles  above  the  Yamhill,  and  seventy  miles  by  water 
from  the  Columbia  River,  where  the  city  of  Salem, 
the  capital  of  the  state  of  Oregon,  is  located.  Hero 
a  small  stream,  which  is  called  Mill  Creek,  flows  into 
the  Willamette  in  two  channels,  one  mile  apart.  Be- 
tween and  extending  beyond  these  two  branches  of 
Mill  Creek,  is  the  site  of  the  city  of  Salem,  a  de- 
scription of  which  will  be  found  in  connection  with 


34 


OKEGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


Marion  County.  The  vallcj'  at  thisj  point  embracing 
the  foot  liills,  is  about  sixty  miles  wide,  and  the  river 
is  in  the  center.  Westward  from  Salem,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  is  a  very  beautiful  and 
fertile  range  of  prairie  hills,  rendered  more  attractive 
by  the  groves  of  oak  and  lir  with  which  their  brows 
are  adorned.  These,  commencing  near  the  river,  ex- 
tend for  several  miles,  and  then  lower  away  into  a 
beautiful  valley  beyond;  passing  over  which  we 
find  ourselves  in  a  hilly,  undulating  country,  which 
extends  several  miles  further  before  we  reach  the  un- 
settled slopes  of  the  Coast  Eange,  which  tower  up  in 
the  background  of  the  picture,  and  cast  their 
shadows  against  the  western  sky.  Southward  of 
Salem,  and  on  the  same  side  of  the  river,  is  another 
range  of  hills  called  the  Salem  Hills.  These  com- 
mence directly  on  the  south  borders  of  the  city,  and 
rise  gradually  and  gracefully  until  they  attain  to  a 
height  of  several  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  surrounding  country,  and  then  roll  away  in 
irregular  rounded  swells  for  twelve  miles,  and  finally 
sink  and  lose  themselves  in  the  plains  which  border 
the  Santiam  liiver. 

Southeastward  from  Salem  is  the  Mill  Creek  bot- 
tom, extending  nearly  forty  miles  in  that  direction, 
and  varying  from  one  to  five  miles  in  width.  Some 
portions  of  this  bottom  are  gravelly  and  unproduc- 
tive, the  soil  having  been  washed  away  by  successive 
floods.  The  greater  part  of  it,  however,  is  very  beau- 
tiful and  fertile. 

East  and  northeastwardly  from  Salem  for  a  few  miles 


ii  I 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


35 


3inl)racing 

1  the  river 

n,  on    the 

utiful  and 

attractive 

leir  browd 

river,  ex- 

vay  into  a 

which    we 

;ry,  which 

ch  the  nn- 

)wer  np  in 

cast    their 

;hward  of 

is  another 

'hese  com- 

e  city,  and 

ittain  to  a 

le  level  of 

[  away  in 

and  finally 

lich  border 

Creek  bot- 
direction, 

th.     Some 

unproduc- 
successive 

very  beau- 

a  few  miles 


the  country  is  level ;  and  beyond  this  we  reach  another 
range  of  hills,  wliich,  after  the  name  of  the  gentleman 
who,  attracted  by  their  unrivaled  beauty  and  fertility, 
first  located  himself  among  them  are  called  the  "Wal- 
do Hills."  These  are  separated  from  the  Salem  Hills 
by  the  Mill  Creek  bottom,  their  nearest  approach  to 
Salem  being  about  five  miles  from  that  place.  From 
this  point  they  gradually  rise  to  the  height  of  twj)  or 
three  hundred  feet,  and  then  roll  off  in  regular  rounded 
swells  for  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  to  the  east 
and  north,  each  successive  swell  rising  a  little  higher 
than  the  former,  until  they  tower  into  the  majesty 
and  grandeur  of  the  Cascade  Range,  whose  dark 
ridges  and  snowy  pinnacles  mark  the  line  of  the 
eastern  horizon.  Standing  upon  the  top  of  one  of 
the  elevations  near  the  city  of  Salem,  and  casting 
one  glance  around  the  horizon  encircling  that  inter- 
esting locality,  we  will,  before  proceeding  on  our 
tour  of  observation  up  the  valley,  feast  our  eyes  upon 
the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  the  scenery  around  us. 

It  is  the  first  of  June,  and  Flora  has  robed  the  hills 
and  valleys  around  with  a  dress  reflecting  all  the 
colors  of  the  rainbow.  The  trees  and  shrubbery  are 
clothed  with  verdure,  and  innumerable  birds  of 
beautiful  plumage  are  chirping  and  singing  in  the 
branches.  The  ground  is  reddened  with  the  luscious 
strawberry,  springing  spontaneously  and  abundantly 
from  the  soil.  There  is  not  a  cloud  to  darken  the 
heavens,  and  the  air  is  as  clear  as  an  Italian  sky. 
Now,  lifting  our  eyes  above  and  beyond  the  front 
ground  of  the  picture,  and   looking  directly  north- 


1       !i 

I  !l 


I  ill 


86 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


ward,  an  object  of  great  beauty  meets  our  gaze,  and 
wo  can  distinctly  trace  its  outlines  against  the  azure 
sky.  "What  is  it  ?  I  exclaimed,  when  first  its  mellow 
brightness  formed  its  image  on  my  eye.  It  is  Mount 
St.  Helen's,  the  most  regular  in  its  form,  and  the 
most  beautiful  in  appearance,  of  all  the  snow-capped 
mountains  of  the  western  slope.  Being  smooth 
and  ^conical  in  its  form,  and  lifting  its  hoary  head 
fifteen  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  the 
eye  can  gaze  upon  it  without  weariness  from  innu- 
merable points  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  from  its  base.  A  little  to  the  right  of  this 
stands  Mount  Ranier,  another  of  nature's  grand 
sentinels,  whose  snows  have  never  been  marked  by 
Imman  feet.  Still  further  to  the  right  is  Mount  Baker, 
standing  at  a  greater  distance,  yet  equally  visible. 
These,  and  Mount  Elias,  which  we  cannot  quite  dis- 
lern  from  where  we  stand,  are  all  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Columbia  River.  Now,  turning  a  little  fur- 
ther, and  facing  to  the  northeast,  the  grand  and 
majestic  form  of  Old  Ilood  rises  up  before  us,  clad 
in  the  terrible  beauty  which  covers  him  as  with  a 
garment  of  light.  This  celebrated  mountain  stands 
in  the  midst  of  the  Cascade  Range,  some  fifty  miles 
south  of  the  Columbia  River,  and  in  the  state  of 
Oregon.  It  is  necessary  to  a  proper  appreciation  of 
the  country  on  both  sides  of  the  Columbia  River, 
that-this  stupendous  range,  of  which  Mount  Ilood  is 
the  most  prominent  point,  should  be  properl}'^  under- 
stood.    To  give  a  correct  idea  of  this  astonishing  pile 


of  basalt  and   snow,  and  the 


range  with  which 


it 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


37 


vazo,  and 
tlie  azure 
8  mellow 
is  Mount 

and  tlio 
w-capped 
;    emootli 
)ary  head 
J  sea,  the 
om  innu- 
and  fifty 
it  of  this 
)'s   grand 
arked  by 
nt  Baker, 
y  visible, 
quite  dis- 
orth  side 
little  fur- 
rand  and 
e  us,  clad 
18  with  a 
dn  stands 
ifty  miles 
)  state  of 
3ciation  of 
)ia  River, 
t  Hood  is 
rl}'^  under- 
Lshing  pile 

which  it 


stands  connected,  I  here  append  what  has  excited 
an  interest  even  in  the  literary  circles  of  Great 
Britain  : 

AN    ASCENT  OF  MOUNT  HOOD. 

MY  BEV.  H.  K.   UINE8. 

"  The  Cascade  Eange  of  mountains  is  a  northward 
continuation  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  California,  and 
cuts  the  State  of  Oregon  and  Territory  of  Washing- 
ton from  south  to  north,  at  a  distance  of  one  hundred 
miles  from  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  range  springs 
up  to  an  average  altitude  of  eight  or  ten  thousand 
feet,  while  at  intervals  of  many  miles  more  aspiring 
summits,  from  five  to  ten  thousand  feet  higher, 
luminous  with  the  sheen  of  everlasting  snow,  dome 
the  ever-green  roofing  of  the  mountains.  The  highest 
of  these  is  Mount  Hood.  It  stands  about  fifty  miles 
south  of  where  the  Columbia  lias  plowed  its  way 
through  the  Cascade,  and  nearly  in  the  center  of  the 
range  from  east  to  west. 

"  Here  is  a  range  of  mountains  eighty  miles  in 
width,  and  all  that  distance  so  broken,  rugged,  and 
wild  as  to  be  entirely  irrecoverable  to  the  uses  of 
civilized  man.  But  few  of  these  wild  gorges  have 
ever  been  marked  by  the  heel  of  the  explorer.  An 
occasional  hunter  has  sometimes  strayed  into  these 
fastnesses  in  pursuit  of  the  elk  or  bear ;  or  a  miner, 
with  pick,  shovel,  and  pan,  has  followed  some  stream 
near  to  its  icy  fountain  ;  but  nearly  all  these  mount- 
ains have  over  them  the  mystery  of  an  unpathed  sol- 
itude.    For  thirteen  years  I  had  looked  with  wonder 


im 


I  II 


!,!;! 


I  Ml 


38 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


and  desire  toward  the  summit  of  Momit  Hood.  The 
desire  to  visit  it,  to  stand  upon  it,  to  commune  with 
nature  and  with  God  amid  the  wild  sublimities  of 
its  gorges  and  glaciers,  grew  upon  me  till  my  spirit 
seemed  ever  asking  for  the  intense  delight. 

"  In  Se])temher,  18G4,  in  company  with  three  gen- 
tlemen of  Vancouver,  Washington  Territory,  I  first 
attempted  to  3cale  that  hoarv  pinnacle.  On  reaching 
an  altitude  about  eigat  hundred  feet  below  the  sum- 
mit, as  we  stood  gazing  on  the  magnificent  panorap.a 
spread  around  and  below  us,  a  dense  cloud  came 
sweeping  against  the  lorth  side  of  the  mountain,  and 
drifting  rapidly  over  it,  instantly  enveloped  us  in  its 
folds.  The  air  changed  suddenly  to  a  fierce  cold  ; 
the  winds  howled  around  the  side  of  the  mountain 
and  shrieked  away  in  doleful  cadences  below  ;  the 
driving  snow  filled  the  air  so  entirely  that  a  cliff"  of 
rocks  three  hundred  feet  high,  standing  not  more  than 
fifty  feet  from  us,  was  entirely  invisible.  To  go  up, 
or  to  go  down,  was  for  the  time,  alike  impossible. 
We  could  only  stand  on  that  chill  altitude  stoutly 
braving  the  beating  of  the  blast.  Frost  and  ice 
gathered  on  our  hair  and  beards  and  clothes,  till 
we  looked  like  four  ice  kings  shaking  winter  from 
our  grizzly  locks.  The  snow  was  swept  by  the  fierce 
winds  in  waves  and  drifts  in  every  direction.  One 
of  my  companions  was  chilled  nearly  to  insensibility; 
but  we  yet  struggled  against  the  tempest  for  hours, 
unwilling  to  be  defeated  in  our  purpose  to  reach  the 
summit  of  the  mountain.  We  stood  seventeen  thou- 
sand feet  above  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  sea,  before 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


39 


ood.  The 
nune  with 
liinities  of 
1  my  spirit 

tliree  gen- 
ory,  I  first 
>n  reaching 
w  the  sum- 

panorar'.a 
iloud  came 
mitain,  and 
ed  us  in  its 
ierce  cold  ; 
Q  mountain 
below  ;  the 
it  a  cliff  of 
it  more  than 

To  go  up, 

impossible. 
:ude  stoutly 
3st  and  ice 
clothes,  till 
ivintcr  from 
by  the  fierce 
ction.  One 
Insensibility ; 
it  for  hours, 
to  reach  the 
Buteen  thou- 
3  sea,  before 


the  very  throne  of  the  storm  king,  and  were  witnesses 
of  the  sweep  of  his  tempest,  as  few  mortals  had  ever 
been  before  us.  There  was  sublimity  in  the  thought, 
and  it  inspired  us  to  daring ;  but  the  tempest  was 
too  strong  for  us,  and  we  at  length  reluctantly  yielded 
to  its  imperious  power.  Subsequently  I  was  glad  of 
the  disajipointment,  as  it  gave  me  occasion  again  to 
visit  the  mountain ;  and  having  seen  it  clad  in  gar- 
ments of  cloud  and  storm,  I  could  better  appreciate 
it  when  robed  in  the  gorgeous  drapery  of  summer 
brightness.     Of  this  second  ascent  I  will  now  tell. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  July, 
1800,  in  company  with  three  gentlemen  of  the  city 
of  Portland,  Oregon,  I  set  out  with  heart  and  hope, 
full  of  determination  to  stand,  upon  that  summit  if 
mortal  enerffv  and  determination  couVi  reach  it. 
Our  place  of  rendezvous  was  at  the  house  of  a  Cana- 
dian by  the  name  of  Revnue,  who,  fourteen  years 
before,  had  erected  a  cabin  at  the  place  where  the 
emigrant  road  leaves  the  mountains  and  enters  the 
valley  of  the  Willamette.  Our  way  here  entered  the 
mountains  in  the  gorge,  through  wliich  flows  a  dash- 
ing river  three  hundred  feet  wide,  which  rises  from 
beneath  the  glaciers  of  Mount  Ilood.  Up  this  stream 
we  traveled  for  thirty  miles,  when,  leaving  the  gorge, 
the  way  makes  a  detour  to  the  right  to  gain  the  sum- 
mit ridge.  Here  is  the  celebrated  'Laurel  Hill.' 
For  three  or  four  miles  the  ascent  is  continuous,  and 
in  many  places  very  steep  and  difficult.  The  top  of 
Laurel  Hill  is  the  general  summit  of  the  range,  which 
is  perhaps  ten  miles  in  width,  and  has  the  general 


40 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


ii 


i    •  ! 


'li 

i 

! : 

r 

!ji 


l;l;     i 


chara liter  of  a  marsh  or  swamp.  There  is  here  a 
dense  and  grand  growth  of  fir,  cedar,  sugar-pine,  and 
kindred  evergreens,  with  an  ahnost  impenetrable  mi- 
dergrowth  of  laureh  T^'ero  is  un  inexpressible  sense 
of  loneliness  in  these  deft j>  ^  ''  .  ;  ■  ?s.  Struggling  rays 
of  sunlight  only  here  and  iheffj  find  way  through  the 
dense  foliage,  and  then  fall  cold  and  white  upon  the 
damp  ground.  Passing  over  tLis  level  we  crossed 
several  bold,  clear  streams,  dashing  across  our  way 
from  the  direction  of  Mount  Hood  over  beds  of  scori- 
aceous  sand,  which  had  been  borne  down  from  that 
vast  pile  of  volcanic  material,  now  only  five  or  six 
miles  away.  We  now  found  an  old  Indian  trail  lead- 
ing in  the  direction  of  the  mountain,  and,  after  a  ride 
of  an  hour  and  a  half  upon  it^  came  oi^f  into  an  open- 
ing of  scattered  trees,  which  sweeps  .uoiind  the  south 
side  of  the  mountain.  It  was  ii  -  <  clock  when 
we  emerged  from  the  forest,  and  sc  '  lov  the  time 
appalled,  confronting  the  body  ui  rock  and  snow 
which  springs  up  from  the  average  altitude  of  the 
mountains  and  enters  into  wedlock  with  the  bend  in  2 
ether.  The  bewildering  greatness  without  inspired 
an  unutterable  awe  witliin.  Selecting  a  place  for  our 
camp  on  a  beautiful  grassy  ridgf^  between  one  of  the 
main  affluents  of  the  Des  Chu  .-  c\\d  the  Clackamas 
Rivers,  and  which  really  con?;.  •\ij  the  dividing 
ridge,  we  erected  a  booth  of  boughs,  gathered  fuel 
for  a  large  fire  d'.irlng  the  night,  and  gave  ourselves 
up  to  h(  urs  of  ■  0:  templation  of  the  strange  scene 
around,  above,  and  beneath  us. 

"  The  evening  now  came  on,  creeping  noiselessly 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


41 


is  here  a 

pine,  and 

trable  \u\- 

ible  sense 

rling  rays 

irough  the 

upon  the 

ve  crossed 

3  our  way 

ds  of  Bcori- 

from  that 

five  or  six 

I  trail  lead- 

Eifter  a  ride 

ro  an  open- 

cl  the  south 

^!ock  when 

^v  the  time 

and  snow 

;ude  of  the 

he  bending 

»ut  inspired 

ilace  for  our 

L  one  of  the 

Chickanias 

10    dividing 

Ltliered  fuel 

re  ourselves 


range  scene 


ij  noiselessly 


over  the  mountains,  and  shedding  a  strange,  weird, 
and  melancholy  splendor  over  the  scene.  .The  moon 
was  at  its  full,  the  sky  clear  as  crystal,  and  the  moon- 
beams seemed  to  troop  in  columns  along  the  glitter- 
ing acclivities  of  the  glaciers.  Mount  Hood  seemed 
taller,  grander,  and  more  glorious  than  before. 
Often,  during  the  march  of  that  night  over  the  hills, 
I  arose  from  my  blankets,  walked  to  a  point  a  few 
rods  away,  and  contemplated  with  something  of  awe 
and  much  of  reverence  the  divinely-illumined  picture. 
Those  who  study  Mount  Hood  only  in  the  studio  of 
the  artist,  before  such  paint  and  brush  caricatures  as 
Uierstadt's,  know  nothing  of  its  real  grandeur,  its 
overwhelming  greatness.  Men  praise  tlie  artist  who, 
on  canvas,  can  make  some  slight  imitation  of  such  a 
scene;  why  will  they  not  adore  the  Maker  whose 
power  and  skill  builds  and  paints  the  grand  orig- 
inals ? 

"At  seven  o'clock  of  Thursday,  having  provided 
ourselves  with  staves  seven  feet  in  length,  and  taken 
such  refreshments  as  we  should  need  on  the  mount- 
ain, we  were  ready  for  the  ascent.  For  the  first 
mile  and  a  half  the  way  was  easy,  over  a  bed  of  vol- 
canic rock,  decayed,  and  intermixed  with  ashes. 
Huge  rocks  stood  here  and  there,  and  two  or  three 
stunted  junipers  and  a  few  varieties  of  mosses  were 
all  the  vegetation. 

"  We  now  reached  the  foot  of  a  broad  field  of  snow 
which  sweeps  around  the  south  side  of  the  mountain 
for  several  miles  in  length,  and  extending  upward  to 
the  immediate  summit  of  the  mountain,  perhaps  four- 


?k 


0 


m 


;l.li 


I    !;!■ 


!i   i 


42 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS, 


miles.  Two  miles  of  this  snow  field  is  smooth,  and 
only  in  places  so  steep  as  to  render  the  footsteps  un- 
certain. Near  its  upper  edge  the  deep  gorges,  from 
which  flow  affluents  of  the  Des  Chutes  on  the  ri.^ht, 
and  Sandy  on  the  left,  approach  each  other,  cutting 
down  to  the  very  foundations  of  the  mountain.  The 
waters  are  rushing  from  beneath  the  glaciers,  which, 
at  the  upper  extremity,  were  rent  and  broken  into 
fissures  and  caverns  of  unknown  depth. 

"  The  present  summit  of  the  mountain  is  evidently 
what  was  long  since  the  northern  rim  of  an  immense 
crater,  which  could  not  have  been  less  than  three 
miles  in  diameter.  Its  southern  wall  has  fallen  com- 
pletely away,  and  the  crater  itself  is  filled  with  rock 
and  ashes,  overlaid  with  the  accumulated  snows  of 


ages. 


through  the  rents  and  chasms  of  which  now 


escape  smoke,  steam,  and  gases  from  the  pent-up 
fires  below.  The  fires  are  yet  so  near  that  many  of 
the  rocks  which  project  upward  through  these  icy 
depths  are  so  hot  that  the  naked  hand  cannot  be  held 
upon  them.  Just  at  the  southwest  foot  of  the  circu- 
lar wall  now  constituting  the  summit,  and  at  a  dis- 
tance of  about  two  thousand  feet  from  its  extreme 
height,  is  now  the  main  opening  of  the  crater.  From 
this  a  column  of  smoke  and  steam  is  continually  issu- 
ing, at  times  rising  and  floating  away  on  the  wind,  at 
other  times  rolling  heavily  down  the  mountain.  Into 
this  crater  I  descended  as  far  as  it  was  possible  with- 
out ropes,  or  till  the  descent  was  prevented  by  a  perj^en- 
dicular  wall  of  ice  sixty  or  seventy  feet  high,  which 
rested  below  on  a  bed  of  broken  rock  and  ashes  so 


i,  4 


inooth,  and 
)otsteps  im- 
orgcs,  from 
1  tlie  ri_,:i;lit, 
ler,  cutting 
tain.  The 
iers,  wliicli, 
)roken  into 

is  evidently 
m  immense 
than  three 
fallen  com- 
1  with  rock 
d  snows  of 
which  now 
lie  pent-up 
I  at  many  of 
h  these  icy 
not  be  held 
f  the  circu- 
d  at  a  dis- 
.t&  extreme 
ter.    From 
nually  issu- 
he  wind,  at 
tain.    Into 
5sible  with- 
y  a  per])en- 
igh,  whicli 
d  ashes  so 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


43 


hot  as  immediately  to  convert  the  water  which  drip- 
ped continually  from  the  icy  roof  one  hundred  feet 
above  into  steam.  The  air  was  hot  and  stifling ;  but 
I  did  so  desire  to  gather  some  ashes  and  rocks  from 
the  bottom  of  the  crater  that  if  ropes  had  been  at 
hand  I  should  certainl}^  have  ventured  down. 

"  At  this  point  the  real  peril  of  the  ascent  begins. 
It  leads  out  and  up  the  inner  wall  of  what  was  once 
the  crater,  and  near  a  thousand  feet  of  it  is  at  an  angle 
of  sixty  degrees.  This  ascent  is  up  an  ice  field,  the 
upper  limit  of  a  great  glacier,  which  is  crashing  and 
grinding  its  slow  journey  down  the  mountain  far  to 
the  right.  About  seven  hundred  feet  from  the  sum- 
mit a  crevasse  from  five  to  fifty  feet  in  width,  and  of 
unknown  depth,  cuts  clear  across  the  glacier  from 
wall  to  wall.  There  is  no  evading  it.  The  summit 
cannot  be  reached  without  crossing  it.  There  is  no 
other  pathway.  Steadily  and  deliberately  poising 
myself  on  my  staff,  I  sprang  over  the  crevasse  at  the 
most  favorable  place  I  could  select,  landing  safe  on 
the  declivity  two  or  three  feet  above  it,  and  then  with 
my  staff  assisted  the  others  to  cross.  The  last  move- 
ment of  fifteen  feet  had  considerably  changed  the 
prospect  of  the  ascent.  We  were  thrown  by  it  di- 
rectly below  a  wall  of  rock  and  ice  five  hundred  feet 
high,  down  which  masses,  detached  by  the  sun,  were 
plunging  with  fearful  velocity.  To  avoid  them  it 
was  necessary  to  skirt  the  crevasse  on  the  upper  side 
for  a  distance,  and  then  turn  diagonally  up  the  re- 
maining steep.  It  was  only  seven  h'lndred  feet 
high,  but  it  was  tw^o  hours'  sinewy  tug  to  climb  it. 


I 


44 


OKEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITTJTIOlSrS. 


(  ■;       'ii 


■1    111 


The  liot  sun  blazed  against  tlie  wall  of  ice  within  two 
feet  of  our  faces,  the  perspiration  streamed  from  our 
foreheads,  our  breath  was  labored  and  difficult,  yet 
the  weary  steps  of  inches  were  multiplied  till,  on 
nearing  the  summit,  the  weariness  seemed  to  vanish, 
an  ecstatic  excitement  thrilled  along  every  nerve, 
and  with  feelings  and  shouts  of  triumph  we  bounded 
upon  the  pinnacle  of  the  highest  mountain  in  Korth 
America. 

"  The  summit  was  reached  at  about  the  center  of  the 
circular  wall  which  constitutes  the  extreme  altitude, 
and  where  it  had  so  sharp  an  edge  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  stand  erect  upon  it.  Its  northern  face  is 
an  escarpment  several  thousand  feet  high.  Here  we 
could  only  lie  down  on  the  southern  slope,  and  hold- 
ing firmly  to  the  rocks,  look  down  the  awful  depth. 
A  few  rods  to  the  west  was  a  point  forty  or  fifty  feet 
higher,  to  the  summit  of  which  we  crawled,  and  there 
discovered  that  forty  rods  eastward  was  a  point  still 
higher,  the  highest  of  the  mountains.  We  crawled 
back  along  the  sharp  escarpment,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes stood  erect  on  the  highest  pinnacle.  This  was 
found  to  be  seventeen  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty 
feet  high ;  the  thermometer,  by  a  very  careful  obser- 
vation, standing  at  one  hundred  and  eighty  degrees, 
where  the  water  boiled  about  forty  feet  below  the 
summit.  This  gives  thirty-two  degrees  of  depression, 
which,  at  the  usual  estimate  of  five  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  to  the  degree,  gives  the  astonishing  altitude  in- 
dicated above. 

"The  scene  around  us  was   'ndescribable.     We 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


45 


were  favored  with  one  of  the  clearest,  brightest  days 
.  of  summer,  and  in  this  latitude  and  on  this  coast 

^  objects  are  plainly  visible  at  an  almost  incredible  dis- 

';  tance.    It  would  be  impossible  to  convey  to  the  reader 

H  an  adequate  impression  of  the  scene,  yet  a  few  gen- 

■  eral  observations  may  be  taken.    The  first  is  the  Cas- 

cade Range  itself.  From  south  to  north,  from  Dia- 
mond Peak  to  liainier,  a  distance  of  not  less  than 
four  hundred  miles,  the  whole  mountain  line  is  under 
the  eye.  "Within  that  distance  are  Mounts  Saint 
Helens,  Baker,  Jefferson,  the  Three  Sisters,  making, 
with  Mount  Hood,  nine  snowy  mountains.  East- 
ward the  Blue  Mountains  are  in  distinct  view  for  at 
least  four  hundred  miles  in  length,  and  lying  between 
us  and  them  are  the  broad  plains  of  the  Des  Chutes, 
John  Day's,  and  Umatilla  Rivers,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  in  width.  On  the  west  the  piny  crests  of 
the  Coast  Range  cut  clear  against  the  sky,  with  the 
Willamette  Yalley  sleeping  in  quiet  beauty  at  their 
feet.  The  broad  silver  belt  of  the  Columbia  winds 
gracefully  through  the  evergreen  valley  toward  the 
ocean,  which  we  see  blending  with  the  horizon 
through  the  broad  vista  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 
AVithin  these  wide  limits  is  every  variety  of  mount- 
ain and  valley,  lake  and  prairie,  bold,  battling  preci- 
pices, and  gracefully  rounded  summits,  blending  and 
melting  away  into  each  other,  forming  a  -  hole  of 
unutterable  magnificence.  The  descent  to  the  great 
crevasse,  though  much  more  rapidly  accomplished,  was 
perhaps  quite  as  perilous  as  the  ascent.  "VVe  were 
now   approaching  the  gorge,  and  a  single  misstep 


<! 


■  1  . 

'  I 


i     ;    ":i 


I'f! 


;) 


46 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


might  precijDitate  us  into  nnfatliomed  depths.  Less 
than  half  an  hour  was  sufficient  to  retrace  the  weary- 
climbing  of  three  liours,  and,  standing  for  a  moment 
on  the  upper  edge  of  the  chasm,  we  bounded  over  it 
where  it  was  about  eight  feet  in  width.  The  im- 
petus of  the  leap  sent  us  plunging  down  the  icy 
steep  below. 

"In  two  hours  from  the  summit  we  reached  our 
camp.  At  dark  we  began  to  pay  the  price  of  our 
pleasure.  The  glare  of  the  sun  on  the  ice  had  burned 
our  faces  and  dazzled  our  eyes  till  they  were  so  pain- 
ful that  not  one  of  the  party  slept  a  moment  during 
the  night.  I  kept  over  my  eyes  and  face  a  cloth 
wetted  with  ice- water  all  night,  and  in  the  morning 
was  able  to  see ;  but  two  of  the  party  were  as  blind 
as  rocks  for  forty-eight  hours.  But  we  were  well  com- 
pensated for  all  our  toil  and  pain.  And  now,  as  often 
as  thought  recui's  to  the  moment  when  I  stood  upon 
that  awful  height,  and  the  same  awe  of  the  infinite 
God  who  settest  fast  the  mountains,  being  girded  with 
power,  comes  over  my  soul,  I  praise  him  that  he  gave 
me  strength  to  stand  where  his  power  speaks  with 
words  few  mortals  ever  hear,  and  the  reverent  wor- 
shipings  of  mountains  and  solitudes  seem  flowing  up 
to  his  throne." 

From  this  magnificent  picture,  in  which  we  have 
seen  blended  in  beautiful  harmony  extended  valleys 
and  fertile  plains,  dotted  here  and  there  with  numer- 
ous signs  of  civilization,  lines  of  forest,  rising  grounds, 
lofty  hills,  towering  mountains,  majestic  glaciers,  me- 
anderhig  streams,  and  flowing  rivers,  we  will  turn  our 


I 


^r 


^r~'\ 


OllEGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


47 


faces  soutLward,  and  tliere,  as  clearly  as  from  the  top 
of  Mount  Hood,  the  shimmering  summit  of  Jeffersou 
greets  the  eye,  and,  looking  a  little  further  still,  the 
Three  Sisters,  clad  in  their  robes  of  unsullied  white- 
ness, stand  out  in  bold  relief,  as  if  to  add  a  finisli  to 
the  glorious  panorama  which  we  have  been  contem- 
plating. "We  have  as  yet  gone  round  but  half  the  cir- 
cle, and  we  have  time  only  to  glance  at  the  other 
half,  where  the  Coast  Range  draws  its  lines  against 
the  western  sky,  and  then  leave  this  point  of  observa- 
tion, and  proceed  up  the  valley  with  our  explorations. 
Six  miles  above  the  city  of  Salem  comes  flowing  dowTi 
into  the  Willamette  from  the  west  a  stream  called 
La  Creole,  which  can  also  boast  of  its  privileges  for 
milling  operations,  and  of  watering  a  splendid  por- 
tion of  the  country.  Fifteen  miles  above  this  is  the 
Luckimute,  a  fine  stream,  bordered  on  each  side  by 
fertile  plains.  Three  miles  further  on  is  Soap  Creek, 
which  can  also  boast  of  its  advantages.  These  all  rise 
in  the  Coast  Range,  and,  running  eastward  from  thirty 
to  fifty  miles  crosswise  of  the  valley,  hasten  to  mingle 
their  waters  with  those  of  the  Willamette.  Fifteen 
miles  above  Salem,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Willa- 
mette, the  Santiam  comes  dancing  down  its  channel 
as  clear  as  the  crystal  drop  that  oozes  from  the  pines, 
whose  forms  are  reflected  from  its  limped  waters. 
This  is  a  very  considerable  stream,  and  flows  through 
an  excellent  portion  of  the  country.  The  springs  of 
the  Cascade  Mountains  supply  its  several  branches, 
and  from  the  extent  of  the  country  watered,  and  the 
driving  power  which  it  affords,  it  is  not  second  to 


m 


'»■  ! 


S'i       111 


\    K 


48 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


any  of  tlic  tributaries  of  the  Willamette.  Eight 
miles  above  the  Santiam  we  come  to  the  point  where 
the  flom'ishing  city  of  Albany  is  located,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Callapooia  Eiver.  This  stream,  rising  far  up 
in  the  Cascades,  and  flowing  across  the  eastern  half 
of  the  valley  diagonally,  fertilizes  and  beautifies  a 
large  portion  of  the  county  cf  Linn.  Above  this  a 
few  miles  is  another  stream,  appropriately  named 
Muddy,  from  the  appearance  of  its  dark,  turbid 
waters.  Its  principal  value  consists  in  its  affording 
an  abundance  of  stock  water  in  the  dry  season. 
Above  this  some  twenty  miles  the  M'Kenzie  fork  of 
the  Willamette  comes  booming  out  of  a  gorge  in  the 
Cascade  Mountains,  and  from  this  we  will  pass  over 
to  the  westward  side,  and  cross  Grand  Prairie,  beau- 
tiful in  the  extreme,  and  at  its  further  border  we  find 
a  very  interesting  stream  bearing  the  euphonious 
name  of  "  Long  Tom." 

This  stream  rises  in  numerous  rivulets  which  issue 
from  the  Coast  Range,  and,  watering  a  large  extent 
of  country,  unite,  and,  running  northward  at  the  base 
of  the  foot  hills  of  the  Coast  Range,  discharge  their 
waters  into  the  Willamette  twelve  miles  above  the 
city  of  Corvallis.  We  have  now  reached  the  upper  or 
souln  end  of  the  valley  proper,  and  a  collection  of 
prairie  and  timbered  hills,  which  are  generally  set- 
tled up,  extend  southward  for  twenty-five  miles  or 
more  before  they  swell  into  the  bolder  and  loftier 
outlines  of  the  Callapooia  Mountains,  which  form 
the  southern  boundary  of  the  great  Willamette 
Yalley. 


I      !f    . 


MiiiiiiL 


T 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


49 


The  Siuselaw  is  a  small  though  independent  valley, 
lying  between  the  waters  which  flow  into  the  Willa- 
mette River  and  those  of  the  Umpqua.  The  upper 
part  of  this  valley,  some  fifty  miles  from  tlie  ocean, 
though  small,  is  rich  and  fertile,  and  capable  of  sus- 
taining a  much  heavier  population  than  have  yet 
settled  upon  its  limpid  and  health-giving  waters. 
The  river  pierces  the  entire  Coast  Range,  forming  a 
valley  of  varied  extent,  and  empties  itself  into  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  Salmon  enter  this  river,  as  also 
nearly  all  the  streams  that  run  into  the  ocean,  in 
great  abundance  in  their  season,  so  that  at  times  they 
literally  fill  the  channel  from  bank  to  bank. 


i^i  ft 


I    , 


:!!r , 


iM 


\  I' I 

'I' 

r     III 


60 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


'ii.:i: 


CHAPTER  ly. 

THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  GREAT  COLUMBIA. 

The  Columbia  is  the  father  of  riverp  on  the  great 
Pacific  Slope,  and  into  its  capacious  nnel  nearly 
all  the  waters  of  Oregon  and  Washi..^  ..i  Territory- 
discharge  themselves.  The  river  forms  the  dividing 
line  between  the  state  and  territory,  and  in  the  ad- 
vantages which  it  confers  it  equally  belongs  to  both. 
With  the  exception  of  a  few  short  portages  by  rail- 
road, one  at  the  Cascades  of  four  miles,  and  one 
above  Dalles  City  of  ten  miles  in  length,  it  is  navi- 
gable for  more  than  five  hundred  miles  from  its 
mouth.  Draining  more  extent  of  country  than  any 
rivers  upon  the  continent  save  the  Mississippi  and 
the  Amazon,  this  majestic  stream  13  supplied  from 
the  inexhaustible  reservoirs  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and,  increasing  in  magnitude  and  power  by  an 
accumulation  of  unnumbered  tributaries,  it  sweeps 
along  in  its  resistless  course,  tearing  away  every 
obstacle,  sapping  the  foundation  of  mountains,  and 
hurling  them  down  from  their  rocky  heights,  piercing 
the  adamantine  barriers  that  would  impede  its  prog- 
ress, or  leaping  down  the  fearful  precipice  into  the 
deep  chasm  made  by  its  o^vn  resistless  power ;  now 
gliding  smoothly  and  beautifully  along  near  tlie  sur- 
face, and  now  almost  hiding  itself  thousands  of  feet 


MkiA 


T 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


61 


below.  Approacliing  the  basaltic  walls  reared  by 
the  Cascade  Range  across  its  pathway,  it  gathers  up 
its  omnipotence,  and  lifting  those  mighty  abutments 
from  their  foundations,  bears  them  away  upon  its 
bosom  and  casts  them  into  the  depths  below.  Thus 
making  itself  a  channel  through  every  impediment,  it 
comes  gliding  out  from  the  gorges  of  the  Cascades  into 
the  lower  country  a  ,  aiooth,  deep,  broad,  beautiful 
river,  and  enlarging  as  it  goes  until  it  widens  to  six 
miles  across,  it  pours  its  immense  volume  of  water 
into  the  bosom  of  the  great  Pacific  between  Cape 
Adams  and  Cape  Hancock  near  the  forty-sixth  degree 
of  north  latitude. 

To  give  a  full  description  of  the  great  valley  of  the 
Columbia  with  regard  to  its  topography,  climate, 
mining  and  agricultural  resources,  etc.,  would  swell 
this  work  beyond  our  original  design.  Attention  is 
invited,  therefore,  to  only  a  few  points.  As  to  the 
surface  of  this  portion  of  the  country,  it  is  as  varie- 
gated and  interesting  as  that  already  described.  The 
same  objects  of  beauty,  sublimity,  and  grandeur, 
varying  a  little  in  their  appearance  in  consequence 
of  a  change  of  the  post  of  observation,  are  seen  on 
every  hand.  Much  of  the  land  in  the  valleys,  and  on 
the  hills  and  mountain  sides,  is  similar  to  that  already 
considered,  if  we  except  the  bottom  lands  along  the 
river.  These,  extending  from  Astoria  to  the  Cascades, 
the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  are 
subject  to  an  annual  inundation  in  the  month  of 
June.  Naturally  rich  and  productive  beyond  de- 
scription,  when   they   overflow  they   seem   to   lose 


''   '    1 


'■i   !' 


¥ 


^Wl''- 


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OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


If'- 


hi,'' 


mil 


much  of  tlieir  value.  There  is,  however,  a  redeeming 
consideration  in  reference  to  these  bottom  lands. 
They  enjoy  two  spring  seasons.  Early  in  April  the 
grass,  which  grows  most  luxuriantly  upon  them, 
shoots  forth  from  the  rich  soil,  and  from  that  time 
until  the  period  of  the  inundation  affords  an  abund- 
ance of  feed  for  tne  immense  number  of  cattle  that 
seek  tlieir  living  here.  Wliile  the  flood  is  on,  these 
herds  retreat  to  the  highlands,  and  the  water  remains 
so  long  upon  the  grass  that  it  dies,  and  is  good  for 
nothing.  In  July  the  water  all  recedes,  tlie  grass 
comes  up  afresh,  and  grows  with  great  vigor  and 
rapidity;  the  ground  is  soon  covered  with  a  heavy 
coating  of  nutritious  herbage,  the  cattle  and  horses 
again  rush  to  their  favorite  range,  where  during  the 
rest  of  the  year  they  revel  with  delight  in  the  most 
luxuriant  meadows.  Back  from  the  river,  almost 
its  entire  length,  the  land  rises  rapidly,  and  gen- 
erally abruptly,  to  the  height  of  mountains,  which 
leaves  the  impression  that  the  Columbia  Valley  is 
very  narrow;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
valley  proper  comprehends  all  that  vast  extent  of 
country  drained  by  the  numerous  tributaries  of  the 
great  river.  Not  only  the  largest  portions  of  Wash- 
ington Territory  and  the  S'i^.te  of  Oregon,  but  also 
of  Idaho,  Nevada,  Montana,  and  British  Columbia, 
are  embraced  within  the  circle  of  this  magnificent 
valley.  A  comparison  will  enable  us  to  form  some 
just  conception  of  the  magnitude  of  its  vast  area. 
Massachusetts  is  considered  a  large  state;  but  if  you 
divide  the  country  drained  by  the  Columbia  River 


?,i'i 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


53 


into  states  of  the  size  of  Massachusetts,  you  will  have 
at  least  two  dozen  such  states,  and  land  to  spare. 
And  what  may  be  regarded  as  still  more  important, 
they  would  all  be  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  the  old 
state  in  climate,  fertility  of  soil,  ar  "  general  resources 
and  capabilities. 

Through  the  Cascade  Mountains,  the  distance  of 
eighty  miles,  the  valley  of  the  Columbia  is  indeed 
narrow,  consisting  mainly  of  a  tremendous  gorge, 
which  its  own  power  has  excavated  through  the 
entire  range.  In  the  midst  of  these  mountains,  how- 
ever, in  places,  the  valley  widens  out  into  bottoms 
which  admit  of  settlement,  and  are  all  occupied  by 
permanent  and  prosperous  residents.  It  is  at  the 
center  of  this  gorge  through  the  mountains,  where 
the  Columbia  pours  her  exhaustless  flood  down  a 
ledge  of  rocks  of  some  fifty  feet  fall  in  the  distance 
of  one  half  mile,  that  the  beautiful  cascades  which 
give  their  name  to  the  whole  mountain  range  are 
formed.  These  cascades,  in  connection  with  the 
overhanging  cliffs,  aud  beetling  summits  towering 
high  in  the  heaven'-  on  both  sides,  present  an  appeai'- 
ance  of  grandeur  and  sublimity  not  inferior  to  that 
of  the  famed  Niagara  above  the  great  cataract.  It 
is  an  astonishing  fact  that  here,  where  the  whole 
mighty  torrent  of  the  Columbia  rushes  down  this 
ledge  of  rocks,  the  entire  channel  is  not  more  than 
thirty  rods  wide.  The  Indians  here  have  a  tradition 
that  less  than  a  century  ago  the  mountain  was  joined 
together  over  the  river,  which  performed  a  subter- 
raneous passage  for  some  distance,  with  a  slow  cui- 


nPu 


i 


■  )|iufl4(».jj.  I  IUK-. 


54 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


rent,  and  that  their  people  used  to  pass  up  and  down 
in  their  canoes  without  difficulty ;  but  all  at  once  the 
foundations  of  this  mighty  arch  crumbled  beneath  its 
ponderous  weight,  and  the  whole  mass  came  tumbling 
into  the  river,  filling  up  the  channel,  and  damming 
up  the  stream,  and  thus  were  formed  the  great  cas- 
cades. There  are  evidences  that  this  tradition  has 
some  foundation  in  truth.  The  river  is  wide  and 
deep  above  the  cascades,  with  little  current,  and  from 
all  appearances  forests  which  were  situated  on  its 
former  banks  have  been  overflown,  as  a  vast  number 
of  stumps  and  trees,  which  have  not  yet  wasted  away, 
Btand  in  the  present  bed  of  the  stream.  The  cascades 
are  fifty  miles  above  the  city  of  Vancouver,  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-five  from  the  mouth  of  the  Colum- 
bia. Forty  miles  above  the  cascades  we  reach  what 
are  called  the  Dalles  of  the  Columbia,  or  Narrows,  as 
the  word  signifies,  where  the  river  suddenly  contracts 
and  rushes  through  a  mighty  chasm  in  the  rocks 
with  fearful  violence,  tumbling,  and  boiling,  and 
roaring  in  its  passage,  and  ever  and  anon  forming 
the  most  ti-emendous  whirlpools.  Here  the  country 
assumes  altogether  a  different  aspect.  The  Ir'lls  are 
comparatively  low,  and,  instead  of  being  covered  with 
timber,  are  verdant  with  grass  from  their  base  to  their 
summit.  The  tributary  valleys  are  small,  but  they  are 
rich,  and  adapted  to  farming  purposes.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  Columbia,  in  the  state  of  Oregon,  starting 
at  Dalles  City  and  proceeding  upward,  we  may  num- 
ber the  Three-Mile,  the  Nine-Mile,  the  Fifteen  Mile, 
the  Tigh  Valley,  the  Des  Chutes,  the  John  Day,  the 


1 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


66 


4 


Umatilla,  the  Walla  Walla;  and  beyond  the  Blue 
Mountains  the  Grand  Eound,  the  Burnt  River, 
the  Powder  River,  and  the  Malheur,  with  many 
others  of  greater  or  less  extent,  some  of  which 
will  rank  with  the  most  beautiful  and  fertile  por- 
tions of  the  Pacific  slope,  are  all  comprehended  in 
the  great  valley  of  the  Columbia,  and  though  extend- 
ing over  hundreds  of  miles  in  all  directions,  are  more 
or  less  occupied  by  permanent  settlers,  and  made  to 
contribute  to  the  sustenance  of  their  occupants,  and 
of  the  mining  population  operating  in  the  gulches 
and  among  the  ledges  Imnd  in  the  mountains  near 
the  heads  of  the  streams. 

In  Washington  -itory,  across  the  river,  north  and 
east  from  the  Dalle^,  the  country  is,  if  possil»Ie,  still 
more  interesting  and  valual  U:  than  the  one  we  have 
just  considered.  Thousands  aad  tons  v.  thousands 
of  acres  of  lands  of  the  richest  pasturage,  and  of  good 
arable  qualities,  are  to  be  found  lying  along  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Cascade  Mounta.is,  and  extend- 
ing hundreds  of  miles  to  the  line  whieli  separates 
Washington  Territory  from  Idaho.  In  tl  region  is 
the  valley  of  the  Klikitat,  the  Yakim.  aid  Simcoe, 
the  latter  being  the  locality  of  the  Takima  Indian 
reservation,  which  is  under  the  agency  of  the  Rev. 
James  H.  Wilbur.  This  portion  of  Washington  Ter- 
ritory is  capable  of  sustaining  an  immense  popula- 
tion, and  when  the  Indian  title  to  the  land  shall  be 
extinguished,  which  doubtless  must  be  the  case  in 
ihe  order  of  events  in  a  very  short  time,  these  beau- 
tiful and  fertile  valleys,  and  these  verdant  and  grassy 


56 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


il    1 


>iii| 


I  I''' 


■  I 


hills,  will  become  the  theater  of  all  the  activities 
and  the  institutions  belonging  to  civilization  and 
Christianity. 

The  Yakima  Yalley  of  this  region  is  very  peculiar. 
The  river  rises  in  the  Cascade  Range,  and  runs  east- 
wardly,  nearly  parallel  with,  and  in  an  opposite  direc- 
tion from  the  Columbia,  but  finally  works  its  way 
around  into  that  river.  Portions  of  this  valley  are 
fertile  and  beautiful,  but  it  is  now  included  in  the 
Indian  Eeservation. 

As  it  is  not  the  purpose  we  have  in  view  to  trace 
the  Columbia  River  through  Idaho  and  British 
America  to  its  source  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  or 
to  give  a  description  of  the  valleys  watered  by  its 
numerous  tributaries  before  entering  Washington 
Territory  and  Oregon,  we  shall  here  close  our  sketch 
of  this  great  artery  of  the  western  slope  by  giving  a 
short  history  of  the  circumstances  by  which  this 
great  river  received  its  name. 

Up  to  the  year  1788,  only  eighty  years  ago,  it  was 
not  known  by  any  civilized  nation  that  the  great 
Columbia  had  an  existence  on  the  face  of  the  globe. 
The  citizens  of  the  United  States  appear  to  have 
taken  no  part  in  the  discoveries  on  the  northwest 
coast,  and  in  the  trade  opened  by  such  discoveries, 
previously  to  the  ye;ir  1788.  At  that  time  a  com- 
pany of  merchants  from  Boston  sent  two  ships 
around  Cape  Horn,  commanded  respectively  by 
Captain  Robert  Gi-ay  and  Captain  John  Kendrick. 
The  names  of  these  vessels  were  the  Columbia  and 
Washington.    These  were  the  first  American  ships 


H 


i 


^n 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


67 


that  visited  the  northwest  coast.  Both  these  vessels 
continued  on  the  coast  until  the  month  of  August, 
1789,  when  it  was  determined  between  them  that 
Captain  Gray  should  take  the  command  of  the  Co- 
lumbia and  proceed  to  China  and  the  United  States 
with  all  the  fm's  which  had  been  collected,  and  Plen- 
drick  should  remain  on  the  coast  in  the  Washington. 
Gray  accomplished  this  voyage  in  safety,  and  on  the 
twenty-seventh  day  of  September,  1790,  again  left 
Boston  in  the  same  ship  for  the  Pacific,  and  some 
time  in  May,  1791,  made  land  a  little  to  the  north 
of  Cape  Mendocino,  near  the  forty-first  degree  of 
north  latitude.  While  proceeding  to  the  northward 
from  this  point  Captain  Gray  discovered  an  opening 
in  the  shore  of  considerable  width,  in  latitude  forty- 
six  degrees  and  sixteen  minutes,  from  which  issued  a 
strong  current  which  prevented  his  entrance.  He 
continued  off  this  opening  for  nine  days,  with  an  in- 
tention, if  possible,  to  enter  it ;  but  from  the  strength 
of  the  current,  and  the  appearance  of  the  breakers 
across  the  opening,  he  was  unable  at  this  time  to 
accomplish  his  object.  Though  convinced  that  he 
had  discovered  the  mouth  of  a  great  river,  without 
waiting  longer  for  an  opportunity  to  enter  it  he  pro- 
ceeded to  the  north,  and  in  June  arrived  at  Nootka 
Sound.  From  this  point  Gray  continued  his  course 
north,  and  after  making  some  important  discoveries 
in  the  vicinity  of  Queen  Charlotte's  Island,  returned 
to  Clyoquot,  near  Nootka,  where  he  continued  during 
the  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1792  the  discoveries  on 
the  coast  of  Oregon  were  prosecuted  both  by  the 


ijlf: 

( .  t   jf   f 

\W  ! 


m 


w 


wm 


58 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


English  and  Americans.  In  the  middle  of  April 
Captain  Yancouver,  an  Englishman,  arrived  on  the 
coast  with  two  ships  at  his  command,  and  commenc- 
ing at  Cape  Mendocino,  explored  the  whole  extent 
of  coast  as  he  proceeded  to  the  north,  and  passed  the 
opening  which  Gray  attempted  to  enter  in  latitude 
forty-six  degrees  sixteen  minutes,  without  considering 
it  as  being  worthy  of  his  particular  attention  on 
account  of  the  forbidding  aspect  which  it  presented. 
In  his  progress  northward  he  says  in  his  journal  that 
"  the  coast  was  so  minutely  examined  that  the  surf 
was  constantly  seen  to  break  on  its  shores  from  the 
mast-head,"  and  yet  that  he  "  saw  no  appearance 
of  an  opening  in  its  shores  which  presented  any 
certain  prospect  of  affording  shelter."  On  his  way 
up  the  coast  Yancouver  fell  in  with  the  ship  Columbia, 
Captain  Gray,  who  had  just  left  his  wintering 
place  at  Clyoquot.  In  their  interview  Gray  in- 
formed Yancouver  that,  the  previous  summer,  he  had 
been  off  the  mouth  of  a  river  in  latitude  forty-six  de- 
grees ten  minutes  where  the  outset  was  so  strong 
as  to  prevent  his  entering  for  nine  days.  In  referring 
to  this,  Yancouver  says  that  "  this  was  probably  the 
opening  passed  by  us  on  the  forenoon  of  the  twenty- 
seventh,  and  was  apparently  inaccessible,  not  from 
the  current^  but  from  the  breaktrs  that  extend  across 
it."  From  this  it  appears  that  the  English  captain 
did  not  yet  believe  that  such  a  river  as  was  repre- 
sented by  Gray  had  any  existence.  Under  this  im- 
pression he  proceeded  on  to  the  north,  while  Gray, 
to  assure  himself  of  tlie  reality  of  his  discovery  of  a 


mi^m^ 


w 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


69 


great  river,  resolved,  if  it  were  possible,  to  enter  it 
with  his  ship.  "While  proceeding  southward  from 
Clyoquot  he  entered  a  harbor  which  he  named  after 
one  of  his  principal  owners,  Bulfinch,  now  called 
with  more  propriety  Gray's  Harbor. 

Passing  on,  he  arrived  on  the  eleventh  of  May, 
1792,  opposite  the  bay  which,  by  a  former  English- 
man by  the  name  of  Captain  John  Meares,  who 
visited  the  coast  early  in  1788,  was  called  Decep- 
tion Bay,  immediately  south  of  Cape  Hancock, 
and  in  latitude  forty-six  degrees  ten  minutes 
north.  Though  the  breakers  presented  a  formidable 
obstacle  before  them,  and  they  did  not  know  but 
that  they  were  rushing  to  inevitable  destruction,  yet 
Captain  Gray  and  his  gallant  comrades  dashed 
bravely  on,  and  discovering  a  narrow  passage  through 
the  breakers,  passed  them  in  safety,  and,  as  Gray  had 
anticipated,  found  themselves  in  a  large  river  of  fresh 
water,  up  which  they  proceeded  the  distance  of 
twenty  miles.  The  natives,  in  their  finely  constructed 
canoes,  flocked  around  the  strangers,  and  manifested 
the  utmost  surprise  at  what  they  saw  and  heard.  A 
traffic  was  opened  with  them,  in  which  furs  were  re- 
ceived from  the  Indians  in  exchange  for  coarse 
goods ;  and  after  having  continued  in  the  river  for 
eight  days,  making  repairs,  trading  with  the  Indians, 
exploring  the  river,  and  taking  observations  of  the 
surrounding  country,  Captain  Gray  again  passed  the 
breakers  at  the  entrance,  and  put  to  sea  through  the 
dangerous  and  intricate  channel,  prepared  to  an- 
nounce to  the  world  the  most  important  discovery 


(  ■; 


:■  '   i; 


'^ 


i\tt 


%■:  ' 


60 


OEEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


tliat  was  ever  made  on  the  northwest  coast.  Before 
taking  liis  departure  Captain  Gray  bestowed  tlie 
name  of  Lis  vessel  upon  the  majestic  river  which  he 
had  discovered,  calling  it  the  Columbia,  a  name 
which,  in  honor  of  t]ie  generous  captain  who  bestowed 
it,  and  the  gallant  ship  that  first  anchored  in  its 
waters,  it  should  forever  retain.  It  has  been  asserted 
by  one  very  iDopular  writer*  that  the  existence  of  this 
river  was  long  known  before  Gray  or  Yancouver 
visited  it.  Doubtless,  it  was  known  to  the  Indian 
tribes  that  roamed  upon  its  banks.  But  if  any  white 
man  ever  saw  it,  he  was  not  permitted  to  survive  to 
tell  of  his  discovery.  From  a  thorough  investigation 
of  the  wliole  question,  it  most  clearly  appears  that 
Captain  Robert  Gray,  of  Boston,  is  entitled  to  the 
credit  of  being  the  original  discoverer  of  this  great 
river  of  the  western  slope ;  a  river  which,  when 
viewed  as  the  only  convenient  or  practicable  channel 
to  and  from  one  of  the  most  extensive  and  fertile 
valleys  on  the  American  Continent,  will  bear  com- 
parison, in  the  natm-al  advantages  which  it  affords, 
with  almost  any  river  in  the  world. 

*  Washington  Irving. 


I 


OKEQON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


61 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  COUNTIES  OF   OREGON. 

The  state  of  Oregon  is  divided  into  twenty-two  coun- 
ties, and  in  describing  them  separately  we  will  com- 
mence at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  state  and  pre- 
sent them  in  their  regular  order,  so  as  to  give  a  more 
distinct  idea  of  their  precise  locality. 


CLATSOP  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  bounded  north  by  the  Columbia 
Eiver,  east  by  Columbia  County,  south  by  the  county 
of  Tilamook,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The 
topography  of  this  county  is  wonderfully  variegated. 
"Within  its  limits  are  embraced  the  beautiful  Clatsop 
Plains,  already  noticed  in  the  general  description  of 
the  country.  This  county  is  mainly  covered  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  fir,  spruce,  cedar,  and  hemlock  tim- 
ber, offering  magnificent  opportunities  for  lumbering 
purposes,  though  but  little  in  that  line  is  now  done. 
The  soil  is  of  a  good  quality  on  the  low  lands,  and, 
though  some  of  the  mountains  are  rocky  and  precip- 
itous, yet  generally  the  soil  is  good  on  the  mountain 
sides,  and  even  to  the  very  tops  of  the  mountains. 
We  can  only  arrive  at  an  approximation  toward  the 


I;,  i 


-.1 


K'    ! 


ii'ii 


62 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


precise  area  of  the  county,  as  its  exact  limits  are  not 
fully  defined.  It  is  not  far  from  two  thousand  square 
miles. 

The  population  is  increasing,  and  taking  the  last 
census  as  the  basis,  it  does  not  vary  far  from  eight 
hundred.  The  number  of  voters  at  the  last  election 
was  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine.  Acres  of  land 
under  cultivation,  seven  hundred  and  sixty ;  value  of 
assessable  property  in  the  county,  two  hundred  and 
eighty  thousand  dollars.  Astoria  is  the  seat  of  justice. 
This  town  derived  its  name  from  the  late  John  Jacob 
Astor,  who  established  a  trading  post  here  as  early 
as  1811.  The  town  is  beautifully  and  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  the  left  or  south  bank  of  the  Columbia 
E.iver,  ten  miles  above  its  mouth.  It  is  ninety  miles 
northwest  from  Portland,  and  by  the  way  of  the  Wil- 
lamette and  Columbia  Bivers  it  is  one  hundred  and 
forty  miles  from  Salem,  the  capital  of  th^.  state.  The 
town  occupies  a  very  salubrioiis  and  healthy  locality, 
and  at  present  it  wears  all  the  appearance  of  grow- 
ing prosperity.  The  custom-house  is  located  at  this 
place,  besides  which  the  public  buildings  are  a  ma- 
sonic hall,  and  a  church.  A  public  school  is  in  suc- 
cessful operation,  and  the  population  generally  are 
highly  intelligent  and  refined.  Astoria  and  Clatsop 
Plains,  on  the  other  side  of  Youngs'  Bay,  are  becom- 
ing a  frequent,  as  they  are  a  very  pleasant,  resort  for 
the  people  from  the  interior,  especially  during  the 
warm  part  of  the  season.  The  fresh  breezes  from 
the  bosom  of  the  great  Pacific  are  pleasant  and 
exliilarating. 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


63 


TILAMOOK  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  bounded  on  tlie  north  by  Clatsop, 
east  by  Washington,  Yamhill,  and  Polk  counties,  south 
by  Benton,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  gen- 
eral character  of  this  county  may  be  described  by  the 
terms  rough  and  mountainous.  It  is  large  in  extent, 
embracing  not  less  than  two  thousand  five  hundred 
square  miles.  Its  western  limits  are  washed  by  the 
waters  of  the  Pacific,  and  there  are  a  number  of 
points  of  interest  along  its  coast.  Tilamook  Valley, 
on  a  river  of  the  same  name,  is  a  beautiful  and  fertile 
valley,  and  opens  to  the  ocean  by  the  way  of  Tila- 
mook Bay.  The  valley  contains  most  of  the  popula- 
tion of  the  county  at  the  present,  though  many  other 
portions  are  susceptible  of  settlement.  Tilamook 
Bay  aflbrds  for  the  county  a  port  of  entry,  and  con- 
stitutes a  safe  harbor  for  small  vessels. 

The  population  of  the  county  amounts  to  about 
three  hundred  persons.     Lincoln  is  the  county  seat. 


BENTON  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Polk 
County  and  Tilamook,  on  the  east  by  the  Willa- 
mette River,  which  separates  it  from  Linn  County, 
on  the  south  by  Lane  County,  and  on  the  west  by  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  This  county  contains  an  area  of 
about  one  thousand  seven  hundred  square  miles.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  fertile,  and  picturesque 
counties  in  Oregon.     It  embraces  a  very  romantic 


<.i 


64 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


i 


section  of  tlie  Coast  Range  of  mountains ;  and  near 
the  center  of  this  section,  and  rising  above  every 
other  elevation  for  many  miles  around,  stands  ^he 
graceful  form  of  Mary's  Peak.  The  eastern  portion 
of  the  county,  lying  on  the  Willamette  lliver,  is  an 
extended  prairie  plain ;  the  western,  extending  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  is  mountainous.  The  plains  are  rich 
and  beautiful,  and  much  of  the  land  in  the  mount- 
ains is  naturally  very  fertile,  but  covered  with  tim- 
ber. The  population  of  the  county  liy  the  last  cen  ua 
was  three  thousand  and  seventy-four.  Numbe.  ol 
voters  at  the  last  election,  seven  hundred  and  twenty- 
six.  Assessable  property,  one  million  two  hundred 
and  ninety-three  thousand  and  forty-seven  dollars. 
Corvallis,  a  name  signifying  the  center  of  the  valley, 
is  the  county  seat. 

The  public  buildings  are  a  court-house,  a  college, 
owned  and  conducted  by  the  Methodist  Church, 
South,  and  three  churches,  a  Presbyterian,  a  Catho- 
lic, and  a  Methodist  Episcopal.  Here  is  published, 
by  W.  B.  Carter,  Esq,.,  a  sprightly  and  valuable  news- 
paper called  The  Gazette.  Corvallis  is  beautifully 
situated,  just  below  the  confluence  of  Mary's  River 
with  the  "Willamette  River,  and  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  latter  stream.  It  forms  the  center  of  business  for 
a  splendid  agricultural  country,  and  is  really  among 
the  flourishing  towns  of  the  state.  The  other  points 
of  special  interest  in  the  county  are  Monroe  and  the 
Belknap  Settlement  in  the  southern.  Liberty  and 
King's  Yalley  in  the  central  portion  of  the  county, 
and  Yaquina,  Pioneer  City,  and  Oysterville  on  Ya- 


I'lgjjjlii.tl'jl,.!, 


"^■ip 


OliEGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


65 


quina  Bay.  Benton  County  has  received  a  wonderful 
iuipetus  from  the  construction  of  a  good  wagon  road, 
which  lias  been  recently  opened  from  Corvallis  to 
Yaquina  Bay.  This  road  lias  tended  greatly  to  jiro- 
mote  the  advancement  of  Benton  County  in  popula- 
tion, wealth,  and  importance. 


M, 


LANE   COUNTY. 

This  county  is  situated  in  the  central  part  of  tho 
state,  and  is  bounded  north  by  Benton  and  Marion 
Counties,  east  by  the  Cascade  Bange  of  mountains, 
south  by  Douglas  County,  and  west  by  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  It  is  about  one  hundred  miles  long  from 
east  to  west,  and  thirty-five  broad,  containing  three 
thousand  five  hundred  square  miles.  The  county  is 
unsurpassed  by  any  in  the  magnificence  of  its  scenery, 
and  it  comprises  one  of  the  finest  agricultural  portions 
of  the  state.  The  population  of  the  county  by  the 
last  census  is  five  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven.  Number  of  voters  in  the  last  election,  one 
tliousand  three  hundred  and  eighteen ;  acres  of  land 
under  cultivation,  thirty  thousand  six  hundred  and 
eighty-three,  about  one  seventieth  part  of  the  land  em- 
braced within  the  limits  of  the  county.  True,  much 
of  the  unoccupied,  uncultivated  land  is  hilly  and 
mountainous ;  yet  vast  portions  in  the  smaller  val- 
leys, and  on  the  foot  hills  of  the  Coast  and  Cascade 
Banges  of  mountains,  are  eligible  to  settlement.  The 
value  of  assessable  property  in  the  county  is  three 
million  dollars. 


■t  ■.  ' 


J 


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66 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


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Eufjeiie  City  is  the  seat  of  justice  for  Lane  County. 
It  is  situated  seventy-five  miles  south  of  Salem,  near 
the  conjunction  of  the  Coast  Fork,  the  Middle  Fork, 
and  the  M'Kenzie  Fork  of  the  Willamette  River,  and 
at  the  head  of  stecmboat  navigation.  Eugene  City 
is  a  place  of  growing  importance,  and  from  its  cen- 
tral position  in  the  midst  of  an  agricultural  country 
rivaling  in  excellence  any  other  in  the  state,  must 
become  one  of  the  finest  inland  cities  in  the  country. 
A  wagon  road  has  been  recently  constructed,  con- 
necting this  city  with  the  valleys  of  De  Chutes  and 
John  Dav's  River  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains. 
The  road  is  quite  practicable  through  the  mountains, 
and  already  beginning  to  be  much  used. 

The  public  buildings  of  Eugene  City  are  a  court- 
house, academy,  one  Episcopal  church,  one  Catholic 
church,  one  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  one 
Presbyterian  church,  Old  School,  one  Baptist,  and  one 
Methcdist  Episcopal  church.  The  population  of  the 
town  is  about  one  thousand  five  hundred,  and  is 
well  supplied  with  public  and  private  schools.  Be- 
sides Eugene  City  there  are  many  points  of  interest 
in  other  parts  of  the  county  which  are  worthy  of 
notice. 

Lancaster  is  a  somewhat  flourishing  little  town  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  "Willamette  River,  sixteen  miles 
below  and  north  of  Eugene  City. 

Franklin,  Long  Tom,  Pleasant  ITill,  Willamette 
Forks.  Cloverdale,  Cottage  Grove,  and  Siuselaw  are 
all  beautiful  and  pleasant  localities. 

Sin'ingfield,  three  miles  above  Eugene  City,  and 


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OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


67 


on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  is  a  point  of  some 
importance  from  the  facilities  which  it  offers  for  mill- 
ing operations. 

DOUGLAS  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  bounded  north  hy  the  count}''  of 
Lane,  east  by  the  Cascade  Range,  south  by  Josephine 
County,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  It  contains  an 
area  of  not  less  than  three  thousand  five  hundred 
square  miles,  or  what  would  be  equal  to  two  million 
two  hundred  and  forty  thousand  acres  of  land.  Of 
this,  but  twenty-one  thousand  four  hundred  and  four 
acres  are  under  cultivation.  Douglas  county  contains 
a  population  of  four  thousand.  The  number  of  voters 
at  the  last  election  was  eleven  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine.  The  value  of  assessable  property  is  one  million 
three  hundred  and  thirjy  one  thousand  two  hundred 
and  eight  dollars.  The  county  of  Douglas  is,  per- 
haps, the  most  wonderfully  diversified  of  any  portion 
of  this  most  wonderful  country.  The  main  body  of 
the  county  is  comprised  in  the  valley  of  the  Umpqua 
River  with  its  numerous  tributaries.  The  level,  or 
lower  parts  of  the  valley  along  the  streams,  are  not 
extensive,  though  tliey  are  very  beautiful  and  fertile. 
Tlie  whole  valley,  extending  from  the  Calla])ooia 
Mountains  south  to  the  Canon  Mountains,  and  from 
the  Coast  Ilange  east  to  the  Cascade  Range,  com- 
])rises  some  fifteen  hundred  square  miles.  To  a 
proper  understanding  of  the  nature  of  this  valley  it 
must  bo  remembered  that  at  least  three  fourths  of 
this  whole  extent  is  composed  of  innumerable  hills, 


t    .; 


68 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


many  of  whicli  aspire  to  the  dignity  of  young  mount- 
ains, and  that  these  are  scattered  promiscuously  over 
the  whole  valley.  This  being  the  case,  one  in  passing 
through  the  county  is  impressed  with  the  idea  that 
the  TJmpqua  Yalley  is  nowhere,  or,  rather,  is  no  val- 
ley;  whereas,  if  he  will  take  the  pains  to  place  him- 
self upon  the  top  of  some  one  of  the  highest  of  the 
elevations  whicli  abound  in  the  valley,  and  cast  his 
eye  around  him,  he  will  not  fail  to  see  to  the  west- 
ward the  Coast  Kange,  to  the  eastward  the  Cascade 
Range,  to  the  northward  the  Callapooia,  and  to  the 
southward  the  Canon  Mountains,  all  towering  far 
above  the  hills  that  immediately  surround  him,  and 
distinctly  marking  the  outlines  of  the  grand,  though 
uneven  amphitheater  known  as  the  Umpqua  Valley. 
This  valley  is  finely  watered  by  the  numerous  limpid 
rivulets,  and  rivers  that  come  leaping  down  from 
the  mountains  by  which  it  is  environed,  and  which, 
with  the  salubriousness  of  the  climate,  render  this  one 
of  the  most  healthy  and  delightful  portions  of  the  state. 
Roseburg,  situated  on  the  direct  road  from  Port- 
land and  Salem  to  Sacramento  in  California,  and  one 
lumdred  and  fifty  miles  south  of  Salem,  is  the  countj 
seat.  It  is  a  sprightly  little  town  containing  a  popu- 
lation of  about  five  hundred.  Its  public  buildings 
are  a  court-house,  a  public  school-house,  an  Episcopal 
church,  and  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The 
town  stands  upon  a  beautiful  location  at  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  Deer  Creek  with  the  south  fork  of  the 
Umpqua  Eiver,  and  is  sustained  by  a  good  agricul- 
tural and  stock-raising  country. 


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OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


69 


Oakland,  situated  in  tlie  nortliern  part  of  tlie 
county,  and  on  the  Callapooia  Creek,  is  a  fine  grow- 
ing town,  and  commands  considerable  trade  from  the 
country  around.  It  is  eighteen  miles  north  of  Rose- 
burg,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  miles  south  of 
Salem. 

Wilbur  is  situated  midway  between  Oakland  and 
Roseburg.  This  place  was  selected  in  1853  by  Rev. 
James  H.  Wilbur  for  the  site  of  an  academy  to  meet 
the  future  demands  of  the  country.  This  academy 
has  since  grown  into  a  flourishing  institution.  A 
little  town  has  sprung  up  at  this  point  which  derives 
most  of  its  importance  from  the  school.  Here  is  a 
church  building,  which  is  owned  by  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South.  The  academy  is  in  the 
liands  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Clmrch,  and, 
doubtless,  at  some  future  day  will  become  a  college. 
Rev.  T.  F.  Royal,  A.M.,  has  been  for  many  years 
the  efficient  principal  of  this  academy.  The  country 
around  is  fertile,  and  the  scenery  delightful. 

Scottsburg,  at  the  head  of  tidewater  on  the  Ump- 
qua  River,  and  about  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  is  a  place  of  some  importance,  as  it 
forms  an  entrepot  to  the  interior  of  the  country. 

Canonville,  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Canon,  is  also 
an  active  and  flourishing  little  town,  sustained  by 
a  combination  of  agricultural  and  mining  interests. 
Besides  those  already  named,  there  are  many  other 
places  within  the  limits  of  the  county  that,  if  space 
would  permit,  would  be  entitled  to  particular  notice. 


70 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


such  as  Yoiicolla,  tlie  place  of  residence  of  tlie  Apple- 
gates,  Garden  Bottom,  Coles  Yalley,  Lookingglass, 
Myrtle  Creek,  Cow  Creek,  Ten  Mile,  and  Cammas 
Prairie.  These,  and  many  others,  are  all  fine  local- 
ities, and  the  last  mentioned  is  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful little  valleys  that  can  be  found  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 
The  water-coTirses  of  this  county,  which  are  numer- 
ous, from  the  rapidity  with  which  they  fall  aftbrd 
almost  boundless  facilities  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses, but  are  not  yet  being  very  extensively  em- 
ployed. Some  lumber  and  flouring  mills  are  in 
operation  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  and  measures 
are  being  taken  to  set  in  motion  the  spindles  and 
looms  requisite  to  convert  into  cloth  the  immense 
amount  of  wool  that  is  annually  clipped  from  the  sheep 
that  subsist  upon  the  thousands  of  hills  that  checker 
this  singular  but  interesting  and  promising  county. 


GOOSE   COUNTY. 

This  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  east  by 
Douglas  County,  on  the  south  by  Curry  County,  and 
on  the  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  population,  ac- 
cording to  the  last  census,  is  one  thousand  and  twenty- 
four.  The  number  of  voters  at  the  last  election  was 
three  hundred  and  thirteen.  The  land  under  cultiva- 
tion does  not  exceed  one  thousand  acres.  The  value 
of  assessable  property  is  two  hundred  thousand  dolhirs. 

Empire  City  is  the  county  seat,  and  is  situated  on 
Coose  Bay,  about  five  miles  from  where  the  bay  con- 
nects with   the  ocean,  one  hundred    miles  directly 


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OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


71 


west  from  Hoseburg  in  Douglas  County,  and  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  southwest  from  Salem,  the  cap- 
iiiil  of  the  state.  Empire  City  will,  doubtless,  become 
in  time  quite  a  town,  though  its  growth  has  been  very 
tardy.  It  occupies  a  beautiful  site,  that  will  adujit 
of  an  indefinite  expansion  of  the  town  whenever 
the  abundant  mineral,  agricultural,  and  lumbering  re- 
sources of  the  country  back  of  it  shall  be  fully  opened 
and  require  an  enlargement.  The  town  contains  a 
population  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The 
principal  objects  of  interest  are  an  extensive  lumber 
manufactory,  and  a  very  nice  and  commodious  public 
school-house,  newly  built. 

Coose  Bay  is  but  an  enlargement  of  Coose  River, 
and  forms  a  safe  and  convenient  harbor  for  vessels 
that  are  not  of  deep  draught.  The  bay  extends  up  into 
the  country  about  forty  miles,  and  upon  its  shores 
are  erected  a  number  of  extensive  mills  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  lumber.  At  North  Bend,  some  ten  miles 
above  Empire  City,  is  a  fine  establishment  of  this 
kind,  owned  and  conducted  by  Captain  Robert  Simp- 
son &  Brother.  Here  also  ship-building  is  carried 
forward  to  a  considerable  extent.  Some  eleven 
vessels  of  from  two  hundred  to  four  hundred  tons 
burden  have  already  been  launcliod,  and  others  are 
in  process  of  building.  The  Simpsons  own  a  steam 
tug,  which  they  employ  in  to^-ing  vessels  out  of  and 
into  the  harbor;  and  in  shipping  lumber  to  San 
Francisco  and  other  markets,  they  also  use  their  own 
vessels.  Many  other  vessels,  however,  visit  the  bay, 
and  find  cargoes  at  other  establishments. 


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Randolph  is  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county, 
and  important  mainly  as  a  mining  town.  There  is 
also  a  settlement  on  Coose  River,  likewise  on  the 
Coquille.  The  Coose  River  and  the  Coquille  River 
valleys  are  connected  with  the  Umpqua  Yalley  by 
two  trails  across  the  Coast  Range  of  mountains. 
The  valleys  of  Coose  county  are  narrow  and  con- 
tracted, and  generally  covered  with  a  dense  growth 
of  myrtle  and  maple  timber.  The  soil  of  these 
valleys  is  good.  The  principal  resources  of  this 
county  are  its  lumber  and  mines.  Of  the  latter,  here 
are  found  gold,  copper,  iron,  and  coal ;  the  last  men- 
tioned in  abundance. 

The  population  of  the  county  has  recently  been 
strengthened  by  immigration,  to  facilitate  which  a 
wagon  road  is  in  process  of  being  built  through  the 
Coast  Range  from  Cammas  Prairie  in  Douglas  County 
to  Coose  River. 

CURRY  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  situated  in  the  extreme  southwestern 
corner  of  the  state.  It  is  bounded  north  by  Coose 
County,  east  by  Josephine,  south  by  California,  and 
west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  It  is  a  large  county  in 
extent,  but  rough  and  mountainous,  and  contains 
about  two  hundred  inhabitants.  The  number  of 
votes  cast  at  the  last  election  was  one  hundred  and 
five.  The  value  of  the  county  consists  principally  in 
its  timber  and  mineral  resources.  Copper  leads  have 
been  discovered  of  great  prospective  value,  and  gold 
IS  found  in  various  places.     Farming  is  carried  on 


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OKEGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


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to  a  very  limited  extent,  there  being  but  about  four 
hundred  acres  of  land  under  cultivation  in  the 
county.  The  value  of  assessable  property  is  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Ellensburg  is  the  county  seat.  It  is  situated  on 
the  south  bank  of  Kogue  River,  and  is  about  three 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  southwest  of  Salem. 

Port  Orford  is  within  this  county,  but  is  not  a  place 
of  much  importance. 


;^5: 


JOSEPHINE  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  in  the  extreme  southern  portion  of 
Oregon,  being  bounded  by  Douglas  County  on  the 
north,  Jackson  County  on  the  east,  the  state  of 
California  on  the  south,  and  Curry  County  on  the 
west.  It  embraces  an  area  of  about  two  thousand 
five  hundred  square  miles,  equal  to  one  million  five 
hundred  thousand  acres  of  land.  Of  this  not  more 
than  four  thousand  acres  are  under  cultivation.  The 
value  of  assessable  property  is  estimated  at  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  topography  of  this 
county  is  wonderfully  variegated  and  interesting.  It 
consists  of  a  succession  of  beautiful  valleys,  separated 
by  ranges  of  high  hills  which  often  rise  to  the  dignity 
of  mountains,  and  presenting,  as  one  passes  over  the 
country,  ever-varying  scenery,  mingling  in  one  view 
the  beautiful,  romantic,  and  sublime,  so  that,  though 
the  ascending  and  descending  may  tax  the  physical 
energies,  the  mind  is  never  weary  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  the  picture. 


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74 


OREGON    AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


The  Cow  Creek  and  the  Grave  Creek  valleys  are 
beautiful,  and  portions  of  them,  are  fertile  and  under 
cultivation.  The  valley  of  Jump-oti'-Joe  is  beautiful, 
but  fertile  only  in  spots. 

These  valleys  are  in  tlie  northern  part  of  the 
county.  The  Rogue  Kiver  passes  through  the  county 
from  east  to  west,  dividing  it  about  in  the  center. 
That  part  of  the  Rogue  River  Valley  emoraced  in 
Josephine  County  is  of  considerable  extent,  level, 
and  in  places  very  fertile,  and  under  a  good  state  of 
cultivation.  In  this  county  is  also  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  valley  of  Applegate  Creek,  a  stream 
which,  rising  in  the  Siskiu  Mountains,  and  running 
northward,  enters  tlie  Rogue  River  within  Josephine 
County.  A  combination  of  mining  and  agricultural 
wealth  renders  this  valley  one  of  considerable  im- 
portance. Gold  mining  is  still  carried  on  success- 
fully in  the  valley ;  and,  scattered  along  the  stream, 
may  be  seen  here  and  there  a  w^ell-conducted  and 
productive  farm.  The  principal  valley  of  the  county, 
however,  is  one  in  the  southern  part,  known  by  the 
name  of  Illinois  Valley.  A  river  of  the  same  name, 
rising  also  in  the  Siskiu  Mountains,  after  meandering 
through  this  valley,  finds  its  way  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean  through  the  channel  of  the  Rogue  River. 

The  Illinois  Valley  covers  an  area,  embracing 
some  of  the  foot  hills,  of  about  three  hundred  square 
miles.  But  lit%  of  this,  however,  is  under  cultivation. 
The  main  interests  of  the  county  are  of  a  raining 
character,  and  these  are  immensely  valuable.  There 
are  productive  placer  mines  in  various  parts  of  the 


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OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


75 


county.  Sailor's  Diggings,  Waldo,  Jump-oft-Joe,  and 
many  other  places,  are  producing  more  or  less  gold 
every  year.  Discoveries  have  been  made  of  quartz 
ledges  in  various  parts  of  the  county ;  and  at  a  place 
called  Enterprise,  in  the  upper  end  of  the  valley,  a 
quartz  mill  has  been  put  in  operation  with  six 
stamps,  and  produces  fair  returns  for  the  expenses 
incurred. 

Kirbyville  is  the  seat  of  justice  of  Josephine 
County,  and  constitutes  the  main  center  of  trade  for 
Illinois  Yalley.  It  is  situated  on  the  Illinois  River, 
and  occupies  a  very  fine  site,  and  will,  doubtless, 
ultimately  grow  into  quite  a  town.  It  derives  con- 
siderable patronage  from  a  public  road  leading  from 
Crescent  City  to  Jacksonville  and  Fort  Klamath,  in 
the  interior ;  Crescent  City,  forming  an  entrepot  for 
Curry,  Josephine,  and  Jackson  Counties.  This  road, 
though  passing  over  high  and  rugged  mountains,  is 
very  much  used,  as  nearly  all  the  goods  shipped  for 
Southern  Oregon  pass  over  it  in  four  and  six  horse 
wagons.  In  fine,  Josephine  County,  from  a  com- 
bination of  mineral,  agricultural,  and  pastoral  re- 
sources, is  destined  to  occupy  a  vastly  higher  position 
in  the  estimation  of  the  people  of  other  portions  of 
the  state  than  as  yet  it  has  attained. 


JACKSON  COUNTY. 


A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Jackson  first  pros- 
pected a  little  creek  near  where  Jacksonville  now 
stands,  and  found  rich  deposits  of  gold  in  the  earth 


I    i 


76 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


■\vaslied  by  the  waters  of  the  creek,  and  hence  the 
name  Jacksou  Creek,  Jackson  County,  and  Jack- 
sonville. 

The  interesting  and  important  portion  of  the  state 
of  Oregon  embraced  in  Jackson  County  is  situated  in 
the  southern  part,  and  bounded  as  follows :  north  by 
Douglas  County,  east  its  limits  are  undefined,  south 
by  the  state  of  California,  and  west  by  the  county  of 
Josephine.  The  population  of  the  county  at  present 
is  three  thousand  souls.  The  number  of  voters  at  the 
last  election  was  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty- 
three.  The  number  of  acres  of  land  under  cultiva- 
tion about  fourteen  thousand.  The  value  of  assessa- 
ble property  is  one  million  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty -five  dollars. 
This  county  is  about  eighty  miles  from  the  northern 
to  the  southern  extremity,  and  one  hundred  or  more 
east  and  west,  covering  an  area  of  at  least  eight 
thousand  square  miles.  The  topography  of  the 
county,  in  its  beauty  and  grandeur  and  variety,  will 
not  suft'er  when  compared  with  any  other  county  in 
the  state.  The  "Winter  Kange  of  mountains,  which 
is  but  a  continuance  of  the  Cascade  Range,  appear 
on  its  eastern  border,  and  passing  through  the  county 
and  dividing  it  into  two  equal  parts  as  to  extent  of 
territory,  is  another  broken  part  of  the  Cascade  Range, 
of  which  Scott's  Peak  and  the  Three  Brothers  are  the 
principal  elevations.  This  last  range  forms  the  divid- 
ing ridge  between  the  waters  of  Rogue  River  and 
those  that  flow  into  the  Klamath  River.  In  this 
eastern  p  rtion  of, Jackson  County,  comprehending 


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OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


77 


the  Klamath  Lake  country,  ai  I  in  the  regions  be- 
yond, extending  even  to  Nevada,  are  large  extents  of 
land,  both  hill  and  low  land,  beautiful  and  fertile, 
which  will,  doubtless,  not  many  years  hence,  consti- 
tute delightful  homes  for  thousands  of  intelligent  citi- 
zens. In  this  region  are  found  Alvord  and  ruel)la 
valleys.  Forest  Creek,  "White  Ilorse,  and  Willow  Creek 
valkys.  These  are  in  the  extreme  southeastern  por- 
tion of  the  state.  West  of  these  is  a  desert  of  some 
forty  miles  in  extent,  and  on  the  west  of  this  desert, 
and  at  the  base  of  a  mountain  ruiige,  is  a  long  and, 
in  many  places,  narrow  valley,  with  a  chain  of  fresh- 
water lakes  extending  through  it.  It  is  v  )rth  of 
Surprise  Valley  in  California,  and  is  divided  from  it 
by  a  low  range  of  hills.  In  and  around  this  valley 
are  many  inviting  spots  both  for  cultivation  and 
raising  stock. 

The  most  important  part  of  Jackson  County,  how- 
ever, is  that  which  is  comprehended  in  the  Rogue 
River  Yalley  and  its  tributaries.  This  valley  is  sur- 
passingly beautiful,  and  is  siuTounded  with  the  most 
enchanting  scenery.  Snowy  Butte,  with  its  graceful 
outlines  and  conelike  summit,  casts  its  shadow  against 
the  eastern  sky.  The  Siskin  Mountains  lift  their 
majestic  summits  on  the  southern  border,  as  if  to 
guard  against  invasion  from  that  direction.  The 
Table  Rock,  rising  perpendicularly  hundreds  of  feet, 
and  spreading  out  upon  its  top  a  mile  of  broad  flat 
surface,  offers  ample  room  for  all  the  surrounding 
people  to  come  to  the  "  Table  of  Giants  "  and  i>ar- 
take  of  their  Viands  together.    And  a  thousand  other 


78 


OREGON   AND   IT3  INSTITUTIONS. 


i 


objects — mounds,  liills,  buttes,  mountains,  snow-pe.iks, 
rocky,  jap;ged,  smooth,  round,  and  conical  tops,  with 
brooks,  creeks,  rivulets,  cascades,  etc.,  etc.,  all  com- 
bine to  make  this  region  one  of  peculiar  interest  to 
every  admirer  of  natural  scenery.  The  county  scat 
of  Jackson  County  is  Jacksonville,  which  is  the 
largest  and  most  flourishing  town  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Oregon.  It  is  situated  on  the  western 
borders  of  a  beautiful  plain,  where  two  rich  mining 
gulches,  known  as  Jackson's  Creek  and  Rich  Gulch, 
come  together,  and  at  the  base  of  the  range  of  hills 
which  divide  the  waters  of  Bear  Creek  from  those  of 
Applegate,  and  is  ten  miles  30uth  of  Rogue  River. 

Jacksonville  is  a  town  of  very  considerable  trade, 
and  is  sustained  by  a  combination  of  mining  and 
agricultural  interests.  It  is  situated  about  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  miles  from  Crescent  City,  on 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  receives  all  its  merchandise 
from  that  point  by  the  way  of  a  wagon  road  which 
has  been  constructed  over  the  Coast  Range.  This 
road  has  been  considered  in  connection  with  Jose- 
phine County.  Jacksonville  is  built  in  a  very  compact 
form,  and  contains  many  substantial  fire-proof  brick 
stores  and  hotels,  wdth  a  variety  of  shops,  saloons, 
groceries,  livery  stables,  and  manufactories,  which, 
with  a  large  number  of  fine  private  dwellings,  stand- 
ing in  the  backgrounds  of  delightful  gardens,  give 
the  town  an  interesting  and  city-like  appearance. 
The  town  is  blessed  with  the  presence  of  two 
churches,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  and  (Catholic.  It  has 
also  a  court-house,  and  has  recently  erected,  in  a  most 


11 


OREGON   AND   1T3   INSTITUTIONS. 


79 


I 


beautiful  locality,  an  academical  institution  which  will 
doubtless  grow  into  a  flourishiug  college.  Hero  are 
published  two  weekly  papers,  the  Sentinel  and  the 
jReview,  of  course  on  each  side  of  the  great  political 
questions  of  the  day.  In  fine,  Jaclvsonville  possesses 
not  only  all  the  characteristics  of  cities  of  larger  pre- 
tensions, but  many  of  the  elements  of  a  continued 
and  permanent  prosperity.  It  is  two  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  south  of  Salem,  the  capital  of  the  state, 
and  witliin  twenty  miles  of  the  California  line. 

The  valley  immediately  on  Rogue  River  is  not 
very  wide,  varying  perhaps  from  one  mile  to  three, 
and  possibly  in  places  it  may  widen  out  to  five  miles. 
The  main  body  of  what  is  called  Rogue  River  Yalley 
lies  upon  the  tributaries  of  that  stream.  BeaT"  Creek 
is  one  of  these  tributaries ;  and  Jackson  Creek,  upon 
which  Jacksonville  is  situated,  is  a  tributary  of  Bear 
Creek.  The  Bear  Creek  Valley,  or  Stewart's  Creek, 
as  it  is  sometimes  called,  varies  in  width  from  three 
to  twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  and  is  about  twenty-five 
miles  long.  It  is  remarkably  beautiful  to  the  eye, 
and  a  large  portion  of  the  valley  is  as  rich  and  fertile 
as  it  is  beautiful.  The  stage  road  from  Sacramento 
to  Portland  runs  the  whole  length  of  this  valley, 
crossing  the  Rogue  River  at  Rock  Point,  and  con- 
tinuing along  down  the  banks  of  that  stream  twelve 
miles  before  it  leaves  the  valley.  The  points  of  in- 
terest along  this  great  thoroughfare  from  California 
to  Oregon,  from  where  the  road  comes  down  the 
Siskiu  Mountains  into  Bear  Creek  Valley  to  where 
it  leaves  the  Rogue  River  Valley  to  strike  ofl"  into 


M^ 


i 
I  \ 


fswmmmmmi 


80 


OREGON   AyiD  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


't'.  tHHi'aB'';! 


ii< 


Josephine  County,  are  tlie  Mountain  House,  Ash- 
land, a  thriving  town,  Eagle  Mills,  Phoenix,  Jackson- 
ville, Willow  Springs,  a  rich  mining  locality,  Dar- 
danelles, Rock  Point,  Evans's  Creek,  Dry  Diggings, 
and  Croxton's  Station,  or  Grant's  Pass.  Southwest 
from  Jacksonville,  on  the  upper  waters  of  Applegate 
Creek,  are  the  mining  towns  of  Sterling  and  Will- 
iamsburgh ;  while  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the 
county  are  the  valleys  of  Antelope,  Little  Butte,  and 
Big  Butte  Creeks,  and  on  the  north  side  of  Rogue 
River  is  a  settled  locality  rejoicing  in  the  name  of 
Sam's  Valley.  There  are  other  valleys  of  less  extent, 
beautiful  and  fertile,  which  a  want  of  space  will  not 
allow  to  be  particularly  mentioned.  These,  running 
into  those  already  described,  and  becoming  one  in  con- 
nection with  the  main  river,  constitute  what  is 
known  as  the  Rogue  River  Yalley,  one  of  the  most 
delightful  upon  whicli  the  sun  ever  shone. 

This  county  has  been  of  immense  value  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  especially  to  the  state  of  Oregon, 
from  the  immense  amount  of  gold  which  has  been 
taken  annually  from  its  gulches  and  hill-sides.  The 
yield  of  gold  has  varied  somewhat  from  year  to  year ; 
but  the  experience  of  sixteen  years  of  mining  in  this 
locality  abundantly  proves  the  durability  of  the 
Jackson  County  mines.  Besides  this  the  county  is 
rich  in  agricultural,  pastoral,  and  manufacturing  re- 
sources, so  that  if  the  mines  were  to  fail,  of  wdiich  there 
is  no  ground  for  fear,  the  county  would  still  constitute 
an  important  part  of  the  state  of  Oregon.  Already 
an  extensive  woolen  factory  is  in  process  of  erection, 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


81 


and  nearly  completed,  at  AsLland,  on  Bear  Creek, 
and  the  extended  valleys,  hills,  and  even  mountains, 
covered  Avith  gruds,  afford  ample  iiekl^  for  the  pro- 
duction of  wool ;  and  when  the  iron  horse  shall  come 
neighing  through  the  valley,  which  will  doul)tless  bo 
the  case  before  many  years,  then  this  delightful  val- 
ley will  be  placed,  in  point  of  value,  upon  an  equality 
with  the  most  favored  portions  of  the  state. 


MARION  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Clacka- 
mas County,  east  by  Clackamas  and  the  Cascade 
Mountains,  by  whicli  it  is  sepnrated  from  Wasco 
County,  on  the  south  by  Linn  County,  and  on  the 
west  by  Polk  and  Yandiill  counties,  from  which  it 
is  separated  by  the  Willamette  River.  The  central 
position  of  Marion  County,  its  abundant  agricultural 
resources,  the  superiority  of  its  soil,  in  connection 
with  its  excellent  connnercial  advantages,  render  it 
one  of  the  most,  if  not  the  most  prosperous  county  of 
the  state.  It  covers  an  area  of  from  two  thousand 
five  hundred  to  three  thousand  square  miles.  Of  this 
there  is  forty-six  thousand  acres  under  cultivation. 
The  population  of  the  county  is  now  estimated  at 
ten  thousand,  and  at  the  last  election  there  were 
cast  some  two  thousand  two  hundred  votes.  Salem  is 
the  county  sei't,  as  also  the  capital  of  the  state.  It  is 
situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Willamette  River, 
and  very  near  the  center  of  the  valley ;  and  no  city 
in  this  or  any  other  country  has  a  more  delightful 


^ 


82 


OREGON    AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


lifii 


location.  It  is  fifty  miles  soatlnvest  from  Portland, 
the  commercial  emporium  of  the  state,  and  sixty-two 
miles  from  the  Columbia  Kiver.  It  contains  a  popu- 
lation of  four  thousand  five  hundred,  ranking  next  to 
Portland  in  size  and  commercial  importance.  The 
scenery  around  the  city  has  been  considered  in  the 
general  description  of  the  coiintr}^  and  nothing  need 
here  be  added  but  to  say,  that  it  would  bo  utterly 
impossible  to  conceive  of  a  picture  more  va'se-vted, 
beautiful,  and  magnificent  than  is  here  presented  to 
the  eye.  The  blue  limpid  waters  of  the  Willamette, 
which  wash  the  western  side  of  the  city,  the  prairie 
plains  and  hills  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  the 
dark  lines  of  forest  through  which  the  river  flows, 
added  to  the  bolder  outlines  of  the  distant  mountain 
ranges,  present  a  picture  to  the  eye  at  once  charming 
and  instructive. 

The  site  of  the  city  is  a  gradually  inclined  plane, 
bordered  around  with  forest  outlines.  Here  the  oak, 
the  fir,  the  maple,  and  the  balm  blend  together  in 
harmonious  beauty  ;  and,  indeed,  nature  has  been  so 
lavish  of  the  adornments  with  which  she  has  decked 
the  locality,  that  the  eflbrts  of  art  seem  but  to  mar 
and  deface,  rather  than  beautify.  Salem  is  laid  out 
on  a  grand  scale.  Her  streets  are  from  ninety  to  a 
Imndred  feet  wide,  and  cross  each  other  at  right 
angles.  Extensive  avenues  are  also  provided,  and 
these  are  beautified  by  rows  of  fine  cottages  and 
splendid  mansions,  which  appear  on  every  hand. 
The  public  buihlings  for  the  state  have  not  yet  been 
erected,  but  will  doubtless  be  commenced  in  1868. 


i 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


83 


The  penitentiary,  located  here,  and  now  a  temporary 
building,  will  be  erected  first,  and  the  State  House, 
Insane  Asylum,  and  others  contemplated,  as  soon  as 
the  bricks  can  be  manufactured  by  the  convicts  of 
the  prison.  At  present  the  state  rents  apartments  in 
a  brick  block  owned  by  Joseph  Ilolman,  Esq.,  fin* 
the  use  of  the  legislature,  which  answers  for  the  time 
being  a  very  good  purpose. 

Salem  has  laid  tlie  foundations  to  become  in  the 
future,  and  that  at  no  distant  day,  a  great  manufac- 
turing city.  By  the  excavation  of  a  ditch  or  canal 
of  less  than  a  mile  in  length,  water  is  brought  from 
the  Santiam  Kiver  tlie  distance  of  about  fourteen 
miles,  and  intersects  the  Willamette  River  at  this 
place.  By  this  arrangement  a  fall  of  forty  feet  or 
more  has  been  secured,  all  within  the  limits  of  the 
city.  It  constitutes  the  best,  and,  perhaps,  the  easiest 
applied  water-power  in  the  state.  This  hydraulic 
privilege  is  owned,  by  a  cliarter  from  the  state  legis- 
lature, by  the  Willamette  Woolen  Manufacturing 
and  Milling  Company.  The  water  is  exhaustless, 
easily  controlled  both  summer  and  winter,  and  it  is 
estimated  that  this  water  possesses  a  driving  capacity 
sufficient  to  drive  the  machinery  for  a  chain  of  fac- 
tories miles  in  extent.  Already  an  extensive  woolen 
factory,  with  four  sets  of  carding  machinery,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty  spindles,  and  thirty- 
three  looms,  is  driven  constantly  by  this  power.  It 
employs  one  hundred  and  fifty  operatives,  uses  four 
hundred  thousand  ])Ounds  of  wool  annually,  and 
produces  one  tiiousand  yards  of  cloth  per  day.     lu 


84 


OEEGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


addition  to  tJiis  the  company  own  an  extensive  flour- 
ing mill,  which  they  have  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
seventy-live  tliousand  dollars.  This .  company  has 
been  remarkably  successful,  and  has  added  im- 
mensely to  the  wealth  of  Salem.  It  is  composed  of 
some  of  the  most  energetic  business  gentlemen 
on  the  coast.  !N"o  business  operation  that  has  ever 
been  commenced  in  Oregon  has  done  more  to  awaken 
the  dormant  energies  of  the  people,  and  give  a  spur 
to  the  enterprise  of  the  country,  than  this.  And, 
as  it  has  conferred  a  great  financial  benefit  upon  the 
people  generally  by  a  large  increase  of  operatives, 
and  opening  a  market  for  wool  and  other  produce, 
so,  on  the  other  hand,  it  has  laid  the  foundation  for 
the  accumulation  of  a  fortune  upon  the  part  of  all 
the  stockholders  of  the  company. 

In  addition  to  this,  Salem  is  blessed  with  extensive 
lumbeixng  manufactories,  sash  factories,  founderies, 
machine  shops,  and  every  other  branch  of  mechanism 
and  industry  which  the  necessities  of  the  country  de- 
mand. Stores  of  all  kinds — hotels,  livery  stables, 
photograph  galleries,  saloons,  meat  markets,  drug- 
gists, booksellers — and  all  other  business  establish- 
ments which  are  requisite  to  give  life,  energy,  and 
activity  to  a  growling  town,  abound  in  all  parts  of 
the  city  of  Salem.  Merchandising  especially,  as 
Salem  is  the  center  for  a  large  extent  of  country, 
rich  in  every  agricultural  resource,  is  carried  on  very 
extensively,  and  Ijecomes  the  medium  through  which 
men  beginning  with  a  small  capital  in  a  few  years 
raise  themselves  to  independence. 


Pel 


OREGON  ^ND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


85 


The  legal  profession  has  a  very  strong  representa- 
tion in  the  little  capital  of  Oregon,  especially  as  to 
the  number  of  lawyers  in  comparison  with  the  popu- 
lation. Twenty  disciples  of  Blackstone  ought  to  be 
sufficient  to  set  the  whole  population  of  Salem,  of 
less  than  five  thousand,  by  the  ears;  and  yet  it  would 
be  difficult  to  find  a  more  well-disposed,  peacefid, 
and  quiet  community  in  any  country  than  constitute 
the  society  of  this  growing  town.  Perhaps  this  is 
to  be  attributed  to  a  kind  of  counteracting  influence 
exerted  by  an  equal  number  of  ministos  of  the  gos- 
pel of  peace  whose  residences  are  within  the  precincts 
of  the  city.  At  any  rate,  the  people  of  this  commu- 
nity, under  the  discipline  and  instruction  of  these 
two  professions,  filled  by  so  able  and  influential  a 
body  of  men,  ought  to  be,  as  they  really  are,  a  gospel- 
loving  and  a  law-abiding  people. 

The  medical  profession  constitute  another  "insti- 
tution" in  Salem  which  should  receive  a  passing 
notice.  Comprising  an  eijual  number  with  the  two 
professions  of  which  we  have  spoken,  according  to 
the  theory  of  some,  it  is  quite  remarkable  that  S  i!om 
and  vicinity  should  remain  in  so  liealthy  a  condiilon. 
There  are  certainly  doctors  enough,  and  poisonous 
drugs  enough,  not  only  to  keep  the  people  all  sick, 
but  rapidly  to  remove  them  to  another  clime.  And 
yet  few  communities  are  blessed  with  more  uniform 
and  unbroken  health ;  and  the  people  when  taken 
sick,  and  under  tlie  care  of  the  doctors,  live,  as  the 
man  said  about  his  wife,  "  beyond  all  account." 
Perhaps,  after  all,  this  state  of  things  is,  at  least  in 


■HUP 


i 


! 


86 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


part,  to  be  attributed  to  the  care  exercised  by  tlie 
very  able  and  excellent  corps  of  physicians  and  sur- 
geons who  preside  over  the  sanitary  interests  of  this 
rising  community.  If  so,  wo  cheerfully  accord  to 
them  all  the  credit  for  the  healthfulness  of  our  town 
and  country  to  which  they  are  entitled. 

With  three  such  bodies  of  men,  the  lawyers  to  take 
care  of  our  temporal  interests,  the  physicians  to  take 
care  of  our  bodies,  and  the  ministers  to  take  care  of 
our  souls,  it  might  reasonably  be  expected  that  we 
would  be  exempt  from  many  of  the  ills  to  which 
flesh  is  heir.  "  But  this  too,"  as  the  preacher  saith, 
"  is  all  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit." 

The  publishing  interests  of  Salem  deserve  also  a 
separate  notice.  Here  are  three  papers  published, 
one  daily  and  two  weekly.  Of  course  they  cater  to 
the  different  political  tastes  and  appetites  of  the 
people  among  whom  they  are  published.  The  Salem 
Daily  Record  is  issued  at  twenty-five  cents  per  week, 
and  is  devoted  to  politics  and  local  and  general  news. 
D.  W.  Craig,  Esq.,  is  the  publisher  and  proprietor. 

The  Capital  Chronicle  is  published  every  Saturday, 
Upton  &  Noltner,  proprietors,  the  former  filling  also 
the  editor's  chair. 

The  American  Unionist,  William  Morgan,  pro- 
prietor, is  published  every  Monday,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent ofiicial  paper  of  the  state.  These  papers  are  well 
sustained,  and  contribute  much  to  the  development 
of  tlie  resources  and  the  advancement  of  the  interests 
of  the  entire  country. 

The  schools  of  Salem  constitute  an  important  in- 


« »"IP«  ( 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


87 


terest  worthy  of  special  mention.  There  are  four 
public  schools  already  established  in  the  four  quar- 
ters of  the  city,  some  of  whicli  are  graded  institutions, 
and  all  promising  much  for  the  numerous  cliildren 
everywhere  thronging  the  streets.  There  are  also  a 
number  of  private  schools  well  patronized  ;  indeed 
it  would  be  very  difficult  to  find  a  community  in  any 
state  where  more  general  attention  is  paid  to  educa- 
tioiial  interests  than  in  this^  or  where  the  youth  are 
more  generally  taught  or  further  advanced  in  science 
and  the  fine  arts  than  they  are  in  the  city  of  Salem. 
Much  of  this,  I  am  aware,  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  pres- 
ence in  their  midst  of  the  Willamette  University,  the 
particulars  of  wdiose  history  are  traced  in  the  subse- 
quent chapters  of  this  M'ork. 

Another  institution  in  Salem  just  rising  into  notice, 
and  already  beginning  to  be  of  service  to  an  unfor- 
tunate class  of  the  children  and  youth  of  the  country, 
is  the  Orphan  Asylum.  This  institution  originated 
in  the  action  of  several  benevolent  ladies  of  the  city 
of  Salem,  who  were  moved  in  this  direction  by  con- 
templating the  situation  of  a  number  of  oi'phan  chil- 
dren, whose  parents  had  died  upon  the  plains  or 
elsewhere  without  leaving  them  any  adequate  means 
of  support.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Parrish,  wife  of  Rev.  J. 
L.  Parrish,  of  the  Oregon  Conference,  who  is  the 
president  of  the  association,  has  donated,  near  the 
city,  a  valuable  piece  of  ground  of  sufficient  dimen- 
sions to  accommodate  the  institution,  and  energetic 
measures  are  being  taken  to  erect  upon  it  a  suitable 
edifice.     In  the  hands  of  the  ladies  of  the  city  of 


w 


88 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


ii 


Salem  it  will  doubtless  be  carried  forward  to  comple- 
tion, and  become  the  means  of  great  good  to  the 
bereaved,  afflicted,  and  suffering  orphan. 

Of  Christian  Churches  there  are  eight  in  Salem, 
which,  in  the  consideration  of  the  institutions  of  the 
country,  require  a  passing  notice. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  justly  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  list,  not  only  because  of  superiority 
of  numbers,  but  also  of  priority  of  organization.  It 
was  established  at  Salem  mainly  by  removals  from 
the  old  mission  station,  ten  miles  below,  in  1841,  and 
was  at  that  time  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev. 
David  Leslie.  Its  original  members  were  Rev.  Ja- 
son Lee  and  wife,  Rev.  L.  II.  Judson  and  wife.  Rev. 
H.  Campbell  and  wife,  Rev.  James  Olley  and  wife, 
Joseph  Ilolman  and  wife,  Rev.  G.  ] lines  and  wife, 
and  "Webley  Hauxhurst,  v;ho  was  the  first  white  man 
converted  to  Christianity  through  the  labors  of  the 
first  missionaries.  In  the  spring  of  1842  G.  Ilines  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  superintendent  of  the  mis- 
sion school,  and  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Salem,  which 
he  retamed  until  the  fall  of  1843,  when  Salem  again 
fell  under  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Leslie,  who  also  had 
the  care  of  all  the  societies  in  the  Willamette  Yalley. 

The  present  church  edifice,  which,  when  erected  in 
1850,  was  considered  large  and  commodious  for  the 
population,  is  now  too  small  to  accommodate  the 
multitude  that  attend  the  service.  Since  its  first  or- 
ganization in  1841  the  Church  has  shared  in  a  good 
degree  of  prosperity,  and  for  several  years  past  its 
membership  has  varied  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


89 


to  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons.  At  the  present 
time,  under  the  pastorate  of  Eev.  J.  H.  "Wythe,  M.  D., 
it  lias  enrolled  a  membership  of  over  two  Inindrcd, 
and  a  SahLath-school  varying  from  three  hundred  to 
four  hundred  members.  This  Church  owns  a  pro})- 
erty  consisting  of  the  liouse  of  worship  and  lot,  val- 
ued at  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  a  parsonage  prop- 
erty, the  result  of  a  donation  from  the  Mitisionary 
Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1845 
through  their  agent.  Rev.  George  Gary,  worth  five 
thousand  dollars.  It  is  in  contemplation  soon  to 
erect  a  neat  and  commodious  church  edifice,  which 
will  seat  from  eight  hundred  to  a  thousand  persons, 
at  a  cost  of  about  twenty  thousand  dollars. 


THE   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

This  Church  was  permanently  organized  in  1853  by 
Rev.  O.  Dickinson,  who,  under  the  auspices  of  a  mis- 
sionary society,  then  took  charge  of  the  infant  Church, 
having  only  four  members,  and  no  church  building. 
Until  the  present  year  he  has  remained  the  pastor, 
and  has  labored  with  great  diligence,  perseverance, 
and  success  in  building  up  the  interests  of  his  denom- 
ination. The  Church  was  greatly  prospered  under 
his  administration,  and  now  comprises  a  membership 
of  about  one  hundred  persons,  and  a  flourishing  Sun- 
day-school connected  with  the  congregation.  Mr. 
Dickinson  also  saw  erected  a  very  neat  and  suitable 
church  edifice  in  a  central  part  of  the  city  for  the 
accommodation  of  his  rapidly-growing  Church.     Re- 


M-' 


I 


t 


90 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


joicing  in  these  abundant  fruits  of  his  labors,  he  ap- 
plied for  and  received  a  dismission  from  his  char<:;e 
in  18CG.  Soon  after  this  the  Rev.  P.  S.  Kni<rlit, 
one  of  the  alumni  of  the  Willamette  Univcrsitv, 
received  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of 
said  Church,  where  he  is  laboring  with  great  ac- 
ceptability and  usefulness. 


THE   BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

This  Church  was  organized  in  1859  by  laymen  in 
the  absence  of  ministers,  and  commenced  with  nine 
members.  Its  first  regular  minister  was  Rev.  J.  L. 
Fisher,  and  under  his  administration  the  Church 
rapidly  "grew  and  prevailed."  A  beautiful  churcli 
edifice  was  commenced  in  1862,  and  finished  in  1804. 
Tlie  Church  property  is  estimated  as  being  worth 
six  thousand  dollars.  The  Hev.  J.  P.  Hungate  is 
the  present  incumbent,  and  has  now  in  charge  a 
large  congregation,  a  good  Church  membership,  and 
a  flourishing  Sabbath-school. 


ST.   PAUL'S  CHURCH. 

This  is  an  Episcopal  Churcli,  and  was  established 
here  by  Bishop  Scott,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Board  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of 
America.  This  climate  seems  not  to  have  been  fa- 
vorable to  the  kind  of  Christianity  inculcated  in  this 
Church.  It  has  never  prospered  much.  It  is  said 
that  the  communicants  now  numbev  thirty-nine,  and 


OKEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


91 


tlie  congregation  is  correspondingly  small.    The  Sab- 
bath-school numbers  about  sixty-eight. 


«IPP 


THE   ROMAN  CATHOLIC   CHURCH. 

This  Church  was  established  in  18G2,  and  iind;4 
enough  of  tlie  Catholic  element  in  the  town  to  sus- 
tain it  in  all  its  peculiar  interests.  Rev.  Father 
Goens  is  the  present  priest  of  this  Church,  and  labors 
diligently  to  build  up  all  of  its  interests.  Connected  * 
with  it  is  a  kind  of  nunnery,  under  the  name  of  the 
Academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  which  is  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Karnes  of  Mary 
and  Jesus.  This  latter,  however,  is  for  educational 
purposes,  and  its  advantages  are  enjoyed  only  by 
young  ladies.  This  Church  contemplates  the  en- 
largement of  their  institutions,  and  they  possess  the 
power  beyond  any  other  organization  to  carry  out 
tlieir  designs. 

THE   CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.   (CAMPBELLITE.) 

This  Church  has  recently  been  organized,  and  have 
erected  a  fine  substantial  brick  building  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  large  number  of  people  of  that 
faith  in  the  vicinity  of  Salem.  In  relation  to  the 
present  condition  of  the  Church  as  to  numbers, 
Sabbath-school  interests,  etc.,  the  writer  is  not 
informed. 

zion's  church. 

This  is  a  Church  which  was  started  by  the  Rev. 
James  Croasman,  a  missionary  of  the  "Evangelical 


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OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Association  of  North  America."  Mr.  Croasman 
commenced  his  efforts  in  the  midst  of  a  city  of 
cliurches,  and  in  a  few  months  had  completed  one 
of  tlie  handsomest  in  the  town,  had  dedicated  it,  and 
organized  a  society  of  about  fifty  members,  and  se- 
cured che  attendance  of  a  good  congregation ;  a 
measure  of  success  that  might  well  be  coveted  even 
in  the  midst  of  circumstances  vastly  more  favorable 
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THE   METHODIST  CHURCH,   SOUTH. 

This  denomination  has  a  church  building  in  Salem, 
but  it  is  not  much  occupied,  and  the  association 
does  not  seem  to  prosper.  This  gives  the  city  eight 
churches ;  a  number,  perhaps,  as  great  in  proportion 
to  the  population  as  commonly  falls  to  the  lot  of 
such  towns  to  possess,  even  in  the  Atlantic  states. 

Embraced  in  the  institutions  of  Salem,  and  requir- 
ing a  passing  notice,  are  those  associations  which, 
though  not  strictly  :"eligious,  are  designed  to  promote 
the  moral  and  financial  interests  of  all  connected 
with  them,  and  commonly  known  as  secret  societies. 
These  are  the  following  : 

Of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  there  are  two  'depart- 
ments :  Salem  Lodge,  Ko.  4,  and  Multnomah  Royal 
Arch  Chapter,  No.  1. 

Of  the  Inc'ependent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  there 
are  three  departments :  Chemekete  Lodge,  No.  1, 
Anniversary  Lodge,  No.  13,  and  the  Willamette 
Encampment,  No.  2. 


rw4 


OKEGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


98 


Of  the  Good  Templars  there  are  two  lodges : 
Capital  Lodge,  No.  11,  and  Salem  Lodge,  No.  30. 

These  institutions  are  all  in  good  repute,  and  are 
well  sustained,  comprehending  many  of  the  most 
influential  and  best  men  in  the  countr3\  The  I.  O. 
O.  F.  have  established,  for  the  benefit  of  the  frater- 
nity, a  library  association,  and  have  already  placed 
upon  the  shelves,  in  Ilolman's  block,  five  hundred 
volumes.  They  have  also  y>urchased  ground  one  mile 
from  town,  which  they  have  neatly  improved,  for 
the  purposes  of  a  cemetery. 

The  institution  of  Good  Templars  was  introduced 
into  the  state  mainly  through  the  labors  of  Rev. 
George  B.  Taylor,  of  California ;  and  lodges  have 
been  established  in  almost  every  neighborhood,  and 
the  result  has  been  beneficial  to  the  country. 

The  State  Library  also  deserves  special  notice. 
This  is  kept  also  in  Ilolman's  block,  and,  according 
to  the  report  of  P.  II.  Hatch,  Esq.,  the  state  libra- 
rian, numbers  three  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  volumes.  These  consist  mostly  of  law  books 
and  public  documents  and  state  papers,  published  by 
authority  of  Congress  or  of  the  respective  states. 

The  county  of  Marion,  of  which  Salem  is  the  seat 
of  justice,  as  well  as  the  capital  of  the  state,  has  been 
surveyed,  somewhat,  in  the  general  descriptions  we 
have  given  of  the  Willamette  Valley ;  but  to  a  proper 
understanding  of  the  country  embraced  within  its 
limits,  it  will  be  necessary  to  call  attention  to  a  few 
additional  particulars.  To  accomplish  this  we  will 
start  from  Salem  on  a  tour  of  observation,  and  take 


'H; 


04 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


It- 


the  stage  road  leading  north  toward  Portland,  and 
passing  through  a  skirt  of  timber  of  some  four  miles, 
we  cross  a  low  marshy  place  called  Lake  La  Bish,  and 
strike  the  upper  end  of  the  French  Prairie,  so  called, 
because  it  was  first  settled  by  Canadian  Frenchmen 
from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  This  we  find  is 
an  extensive,  fertile,  and  beautiful  prairie,  from  four 
to  six  miles  in  width,  and  about  twenty  miles  long. 
"We  traverse  the  whole  extent  of  it,  noting  the 
rich  and  well-cultivated  farms  on  each  side  of  the 
way,  the  fine  farm  buildings,  with  every  other  sign 
of  prosperity.  We  have  passed  a  few  snug  school- 
houses,  and  now  we  stop  a  moment  at  a  little  town 
called  Waconda,  twelve  miles  from  Salem.  To  the 
left  of  us,  our  faces  to  the  north,  the  flourishing  town 
of  Fairfield,  five  miles  distant,  stands  upon  the  river's 
brink.  To  the  right  of  us,  two  miles  distant,  Fow- 
lerville,  with  her  mills,  driven  by  the  water  of  Pud- 
ding River,  enlivens  the  eastern  border  of  the  prairie  ; 
while  between  the  two  places  the  country  is  as  beau- 
tiful as  any  the  sun  ever  warmed.  Proceeding  a  few 
miles,  we  pass  Belpassi,  a  lovely  point-  where  stands 
a  Christian  church  and  academy,  sustained  by 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterians ;  ten  miles  further, 
bring  us  to  the  flourishing  town  of  Aurora.  The 
country  through  which  we  have  passed  we  pronounce 
to  be  little,  if  any,  inferior  to  the  best  portions  of 
the  state.  The  French  Prairie  is  now  mostly  occu- 
pied by  Americans,  the  first  occupants  having  sold 
out  and  left  for  other  quarters. 

Aurora    was    settled,   and   is  now  owned,  by    a 


w 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


96 


a 


German  Association,  who  are  bound  together  by  a 
community  of  interests.  They  are  a  very  wealtliy 
company,  and  have  done  much  to  enliven,  develop, 
and  enrich  that  portion  of  the  country  where  they 
live. 

Butteville,  on  the  bank  of  the  "Willamette  River, 
some  five  miles  west  of  Aurora,  is  a  point  of  some  im- 
portance, situated  near  the  northwest  corner  of  Marion 
County.  Eastward  from  Aurora,  along  the  northern 
line  of  the  county,  the  country  is  diversified  by  tim- 
bered land  and  prairie,  plains  and  rising  grounds, 
for  more  than  thirty  miles  to  the  foot  hills  of  the 
Cascade  Mountains.  The  whole  distance  the  country 
is  good,  and  being  brought  into  a  state  of  cultivation. 
We  will  not  attempt  to  trace  the  eastern  line  of  the 
county,  as  that  runs  along  on  the  summit  of  the 
Cascade  Range,  but  will  turn  southward,  and  pass 
along  over  what  we  have  called  the  foot  hills  of  these 
mountains.  These  we  find  to  be  occupied  some  dis- 
tance back  from  their  base,  and  to  constitute  a  fine 
country  both  for  farming  and  grazing  purposes.  As 
we  proceed  southward  we  pass  over  a  number  of 
dashing  streams,  clear  as  the  crystal  and  cold  as  the 
bubbling  spring,  which  come  leaping  down  from  the 
mountains,  in  their  course  forming  many  beauti- 
ful cascades,  and  hurrying  on  to  unite  their  waters 
with  the  Willamette.  Among  them  is  Butte  Creek, 
Abaquaw,  and  Silver  Creek.  These  all  fertilize  de- 
lightful portions  of  the  country,  and  on  the  latter, 
where  the  stream  leaves  the  Waldo  Hills,  is  situated 
the    beautiful    and   flourishing   town    of   Silverton. 


,  ■;  .■  h 


'if    I 


90 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


h  > 


■:V,.     ;Jia 


Not  stopping  to  survey  particularly  this  deliglitful 
locality,  we  pass  for  several  miles  over  the  round, 
smooth,  elevated  summits  of  the  Waldo  Hills,  which 
we  find  to  be  under  a  very  fair  state  of  cultivation ; 
and  on  the  southern  border  of  these  hills,  and  over- 
looking a  most  delightful  country,  we  reach  a  lit  le 
town  which,  from  its  locality,  but  more  especially 
from  the  grandeur  of  the  mountain  scenery  in  its 
rear,  is  called  Sublimity.  From  this  point  we  de- 
scend into  the  Mill  Creek  Bottom,  and  pursuing  a  well- 
traveled  road  for  some  fourteen  miles,  along  which 
farms  are  scattered  at  convenient  distances,  we  reach 
Jefferson  City,  nestling  among  the  evergreens  of  the 
Santiam  Yalley,  and  on  the  southern  border  of  the 
county  of  Marion.  Contemplating  for  a  moment  the 
business-like  aspect  of  this  little  town,  and  especially 
surveying  the  fine  flouring  mill  built  and  run  by  the 
indefatigable  Jacob  Conson,  Esq.,  and  the  fine  lum- 
bering establishment  and  carding  machine  conducted 
by  Absalom  Smith,  Esq.,  and  the  several  stores  and 
shops  of  various  kinds,  not  forgetting  the  Methodist 
church,  built  entirely  by  the  benevolence  of  Rev. 
Father  Parrish,  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  we  then 
step  down  a  mile  below,  and  find  another  little  town 
which  goes  by  the  name  of  Santiam.  We  are  now 
fifteen  miles  directly  south  of  Salem,  and,  as  there  is 
not  sufticient  importance  in  Santiam  to  detain  us  at 
that  point,  we  will  pass  over  the  Salem  Hills,  which 
we  have  already  described,  along  the  great  thorough- 
fare tracked  by  a  daily  stage  in  each  direction, 
noting  the   many  substantial  improvements  which 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


97 


dot  the  country  in  all  directions,  and  descending  an 
inclined  plane,  we  again  enter,  from  its  southern 
side,  Salem,  the  pride  of  Oregon ;  soon  to  be  num- 
bered among  the  most  beauteous  of  the  cities  of 
America. 


w 


LINN  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  bounded  north  by  Marion  County, 
east  by  the  Cascade  Mountains,  south  by  Lane,  and 
west  by  Benton,  from  which  it  is  separated  by  the 
Willamette  River.  Embracing  the  portion  of  the 
Cascades  that  would  come  within  its  limits,  it  con- 
tains an  areo.  of  not  less  than  one  thousand  five 
hundred  square  miles,  equal  to  nine  hundred  and 
sixty  thousand  acres  of  land.  The  whole  number 
of  acres  under  cultivation  is  forty-nine  thousand 
four  hundred  and  five.  The  population  of  Linn  is 
second  only  to  Marion,  and  amounts  to  about  eight 
thousand  souls,  there  being  an  excess  of  males  over 
females  of  about  six  hundred.  The  number  of  voters 
at  the  last  election  •was  two  thousand  two  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  value  of  assessable  property  was 
two  million  five  hundred  thoupaud  dollars.  Albany 
is  the  county  seat,  and  is  situated  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Willamette  River  at  the  mouth  of  Callapooia 
Creek,  twenty-five  miles  south  of  Salem,  and  seventy- 
five  miles  south  of  Portland.  It  occupies  a  beautiful 
locality,  and  Is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  towns  of 
the  state.  It  is  adorned  by  a  magnificent  court- 
house, which  the  people  of  the  county  have  erected 

at  a  cost  of  thirty-one  thousand  dollars.    It  is  aided 

7 


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ORKaON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


by  extensive  flouring  mills  and  other  manufactories. 
The  spires  of  four  churches  point  heavenward,  as  if 
to  indicate  the  religious  character  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  public  schools  are  of  an  elevated  character,  and 
a  college,  established  under  the  auspices  of  the  Old 
School  Presbyterian  Church,  promises  great  useful- 
ness to  town  and  county  and  state.  The  private 
dwellings  of  Albany  are  more  tastefully  ornamented 
than  those  of  any  other  town  in  the  state.  The  ex- 
portations  of  produce  from  Albany  are  greater  than 
from  any  other  inland  town.  In  fine,  Albany  pos- 
sesses all  the  elements  of  a  continued  and  an  en- 
larged prosperity.  It  is  now  the  third  city  in  the 
state.  ^  ;■''■■'  ^.  '. 

The  county  of  which  it  is  the  seat  of  justice  is  one 
of  the  best  on  the  Pacific.  The  Santiam  River 
divides  this  county  from  Marion.  This  river  comes 
down  from  the  Cascades  in  two  branches,  the  north 
and  south,  and  there  is  quite  an  extent  of  country 
between  these  branches.  This  is  called  the  "  Forks  " 
of  Santiam.  This  is  in  Linn.  The  scenery  is  fine, 
and  the  country  is  not  undesirable.  The  land  is 
rich,  and  well  adapted  to  farming  and  grazing 
purposes.  At  a  central  point  in  the  Forks,  on  a 
beautiful  tributary  of  the  Santiam,  is  the  little 
flourishing  town  of  Scio.  Rapidly  growing,  and 
blessed  with  manufactories,  schools,  and  Churches, 
it  will  advance  to  a  place  of  considerable  impor- 
tance.    .  .     *       .  ,-       ,       .V 

Leaving  the  Forks,  and  crossing  the  south  branch, 
we  come  to  the  growing  little  town  of  Lebanon, 


pr? 


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a 

le 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


99 


standing  on  the  borders  of  tlie  largest  and  most 
beautiful  prairie  in  the  state  of  Oregon.  This  town 
contains  several  stores,  workshops,  etc.,  and  is  the 
locality  of  an  academy  which  is  under  the  patronage 
and  control  of  the  Oregon  Conference  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  This  is  an  institution  that 
would  be  creditable  to  a  place  of  much  higher  pre- 
tensions, and  is  now  under  the  able  management  of 
the  Rev.  J.  B.  Calloway..  Its  influence  for  good  in 
the  vicinity  where  it  is  located  is  great,  and,  in  pre- 
paring students  to  enter  the  advanced  classes  in 
the  Willamette  University,  it  is  becoming  a  useful 
adjunct  to  that  institution.  The  building  is  of  wood, 
of  line  appearance,  and  suflSciently  large  to  accom- 
modate the  school  for  years  to  come. 

Three  miles  from  Lebanon,  in  a  southerly  direction, 
is  a  bald  prairie  eminence  known  as  Washington 
Butte.  Beyond  this,  and  further  out  in  the  prairie, 
are  Ward's  Butte  and  Saddle  Butte.  These  are 
elevations  of  great  beauty,  somewhat  isolated  from 
the  foot  hills  of  the  Cascades,  and  from  their  summit 
command  a  view  of  the  largest,  the  most  beautiful, 
and  the  best  prairie  in  the  state  of  Oregon.  This 
prairie  is,  on  an  average,  about  ten  miles  broad  and 
forty-five  miles  long,  being  cut,  in  two  or  three 
places,  by  streams  that  meander  through  it.  This 
prairie  is  all  divided  up  into  beautiful  farms,  the 
most  of  which  are  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
and,  with  their  beautiful  and  cozy  farm  dwellings, 
their  capacious  and  well-filled  barns,  their  broad  and 
fruitful   fields,   their   apples,   peaches,   plums,    and 


fii 


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•  i. 


100 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


grapes,  and  their  numerous  flocks  and  herds,  consti- 
tute most  delightful  homes  for  their  occupants,  con- 
ferring upon  them  not  only  a  competency  of  the 
good  things  of  earth,  but  even  a  superabundance. 

Brownsville  is  another  important  town  in  this 
county,  and  is  situated  on  the  Callapooia  Creek, 
twenty-two  miles  southeast  from  Albany,  and  fourteen 
miles  south  from  Lebanon.  This  flourishing  town 
has  excellent  water  privileges,  which  are  beginning 
to  be  extensively  used.  Here  is  a  large  woolen 
factory  in  successful  operation,  a  fine  grist  mill,  and 
other  manufacturing  establishments,  with  a  number 
of  stores  and  business  shops  of  various  kinds,  all  of 
which  give  satisfactory  evidence  that  this  town,  up 
among  the  foot  hills  of  the  Cascades,  possesses  the 
elements  of  a  certain  prosperity.  It  is  surrounded 
by  an  excellent  farming  and  grazing  country,  and  for 
many  miles  up  the  Callapooia,  east  of  Brownsville, 
the  valley  is  broad,  and  composed  of  the  best  of 
farming  land,  and  the  foot  hills  are  very  fertile,  and 
are  settled  up  for  miles  back,  and  constitute  one  of 
the  best  grazing  districts  in  the  state.  There  are 
several  small  valleys  on  the  tributaries  of  the 
Willamette,  among  the  foot  hills  of  the  mountains, 
which  are  worthy  of  mention  :  Brush  Creek,  which 
is  a  better  valley  than  its  name  would  imply;  Mo- 
hawk Valley,  which  for  some  reason  took  its  name 
from  the  Mohawk  of  New  York  state ;  and  "  Sweet 
Home"  Valley,  hidden  among  the  mountains,  yet 
as  delightful  as  its  name  would  indicate. 

Leaving  this  eastern  portion  of  the  county,  and 


t 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


101 


traveling  westward  over  a  most  delightful  plain,  and 
taking  a  survey  as  we  pass  along  of  the  nice  farms, 
the  splendid  orchards,  and  other  objects  of  intercBt, 
keeping  within  the  limits  of  Linn  County,  we  at 
length,  after  proceeding  some  fifteen  miles,  reach  a 
point  of  interest  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Willamette 
River.  This  is  Harrisburg,' another  prosperous  little 
town,  commanding  very  considerable  trade  from  the 
rich  and  extended  prairie  over  which  we  have  just 
passed.  Here  also  is  a  large  flouring  mill,  and  all 
the  appurtenances  of  a  fine  growing  town.  Steam- 
boats reach  this  point  quite  regularly  for  six  months 
in  the  year.  Now  we  will  turn  to  the  northward, 
and  travel  down  along  the  east  bank  of  the  Willa- 
mette River ;  and  we  will  look  at  the  pretty  farms, 
the  snug  cottages,  the  noble  barns,  now  and  then 
looking  down  upon  the  silvery  river  flowing  at  our 
left  as  we  pass  along,  and  twelve  miles  below  Harris- 
burg we  come  to  another  point  of  interest  called 
Peoria.  It  is  a  little  town  close  upon  the  river's 
brink,  on  a  beautiful  spot,  and  commanding  con- 
siderable trade  from  the  fertile  prairie  on  the  margin 
of  which  it  is  located,  and  will  doubtless  grow  in 
proportion  to  the  advancement  of  the  country 
around.  Again  we  will  proceed  northward,  and 
passing  through  a  country  of  surpassing  loveliness  for 
fifteen  miles  more,  we  reach  Albany  again,  and  here, 
climbing  to  the  elevated  dome  of  the  court-house,  we 
will  take  a  parting  view  of  the  county  of  Linn  from 
that  altitude.  Looking  south,  we  have  a  distinct 
view  of  Spencer's  Butte,  and  the  range  of  hills  form- 


f 


M 


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1 


;  I 


I    !     '■ 


1  ■.    » ■' 


102 


li 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


ing  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Willamette  Valley, 
fifty  miles  distant.  Wo  see  the  mighty  Cascade 
Range,  with  Hood  and  Jefferson  and  the  Three 
Sisters,  stretching  along  to  the  right  and  left,  and 
casting  their  shadows  against  the  eastern  sky  the 
distance  of  at  least  ono  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 
And  we  also  see  every  foot  almost  of  the  beautiful 
county  of  Linn,  checkered  with  farms,  traversed 
with  roads,  dotted  with  cottages,  and  teeming 
with  industry,  and  with  the  whole  panoramic  scene 
before  us  we  are  ready  to  exclaim,  "  Surely  this  is  a 
scene  of  natural  beauty  and  grandeur  worthy  of  the 
pencil  of  the  most  skillful  master  properly  to  portray. 

Scattered  over  the  fine  and  extended  prairie  which 
we  have  been  surveying  are  quite  a  number  of  houses 
of  worship  which  have  been  erected  by  different  de- 
nominations, and  on  the  Sabbath  day  nearly  all  the 
people  are  in  the  house  of  God. 

Numerous  white  school-houses  dot  the  prairie  in 
every  direction,  neat,  tasteful,  and  commodious,  where 
the  children  rally  to  receive  the  rudiments  of  an 
education.  In  fine,  here,  as  in  every  portion  of 
Oregon,  are  seen  on  every  hand  the  evidences  of  an 
advancing  Christian  civilization.  A  few  years  only 
have  elapsed  since  an  unbroken  solitude  reigned  over 
these  extended  plains ;  but  now  the  solitary  places  are 
rejoicing  with  gladness,  and  the  wilderness  is  bud- 
ding and  blossoming  like  the  rose.  Leaving  our 
high  post  of  observation  we  come  down  to  the  com- 
mon level  of  the  country,  and  finish  our  description 
of  Linn. 


s 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


103 


There  are  two  weekly  papers  published  in  Linn, 
both  in  the  city  of  Albany :  the  Albany  Journal^  by 
Wni.  IMckett  *fe  Co.,  and  the  States  liiyhta  JJeinocrai^ 
by  Abbott  «fe  Brown.  Both  are  popular  with  the 
respective  parties  in  whose  interest  they  were  est!)')- 
lished,  and  both  are  useful  in  developing  the  resouicea 
of  the  county  t,  •  I  state. 


MULTNOMAH  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  principally  embraced  in  the  city  of 
Portland,  so  far  as  its  population  is  concerned.  It 
lies  on  the  banks  of  the  "Willamette  River  in  the 
north  part  of  the  state,  with  Clackamas  on  the  south, 
"Washington  on  the  west,  and  Columbia  on  the  north. 
This  county  contains  a  population  of  near  eight 
thousand  souls,  with  a  large  preponderance  of  males 
over  females,  as  in  all  other  counties  on  the  Pacific. 
As  the  land  outside  of  Portland  is  mainly  heavily 
timbered,  there  are  only  four  thousand  one  hundred 
and  tifty-one  acres  under  cultivation.  The  total 
value  of  assessable  property,  by  a  recent  valuation, 
is  four  million  dollars.  This  makes  the  county  of 
Multnomah  the  wealthiest  one  in  the  state.  Port- 
land is  the  county  seat,  ns  well  as  the  commercial 
emporium  of  the  state.  It  stands  upon  the  westei.i 
bank  of  the  "Willamette  River,  on  ground  that  but  a 
few  years  ago  was  covered  with  a  dense  and  heavy 
body  of  fir  timber.  It  extends  for  two  miles  up  and 
down  the  river,  and  the  ground  is  mainly  covered 
witli  buildings  one  half  mile  back.    It  has  many  very 


i 


ii 


11,  i1 


!   \ 


104 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


beautiful  and  substantial  blocks  of  stores  and  private 
dwellings,  and  it  is  affirmed  that,  in  proportion  to 
its  population,  it  is  the  wealthiest  city  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  if  not  in  America.  There  is  a  road  extending 
from  Portland  by  the  way  of  Salem  and  Jacksonville, 
to  the  city  of  Sacramento  in  California,  the  distance 
of  over  six  hundred  miles,  and  a  line  of  daily  stages 
ply  between  the  two  points.  This  is  a  very  impor- 
tant fact  in  the  description  of  Oregon.  This  line  of 
stages  was  first  owned  by  a  California  company,  but 
by  purchase  became  the  property  of  H.  "W.  Corbett, 
who  was  subsequently  elected  a  United  States  sena- 
tor from  Oregon,  and  was  himself  a  resident  of  P  ort- 
land.  This  place  is  greatly  benefited  by  this  line,  as 
is  also  the  entire  country.  Portland  also  constitutes 
a  center  for  Washington  Territory  and  Idaho,  and 
there  are  daily  departures  to  and  arrivals  from  these 
portions  of  the  country.  ' 

Besides  this,  Portland  is  at  the  head  of  ship  navi- 
gation on  the  Willamette  Kiver,  and  here  sailing  ves- 
sels and  steamboats  from  San  Francisco  land  all  their 
freight  and  passengers.  If  Portland  can  retain  these 
advantages  she  must  continue  to  be  the  commercial 
center  of  this  part  of  the  Pacific  coast.  Portland,  like 
Salem,  has  her  "  institutions,"  and  we  call  attention 
to  a  few  of  them. 


I 


HER  SCHOOLS  AND  SEMINARIES  OF   LEARNING. 

Portland,  like  all  other  towns  in  Oregon,  pays 
great  attention  to  the  subject  of  education.  Her 
public  schools,  of  which  there  arc  several,  under  the 


'i^ 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


105 


management  of  competent  teachers,  rank  with  the 
best  in  the  country,  and  are,  indeed,  decidedly 
popular. 

There  are  also  private  schools,  concerning  whicli 
we  have  little  information. 

Besides  these,  there  are  denominational  institutions 
which  are  exerting  an  extensive  influence. 

The  Catholics  here  also,  under  the  direction  of  a 
society  of  sisters,  have  established  a  school,  as  usual, 
for  the  exclusive  benefit  of  girls.  They  are  influ- 
enced, doubtless,  by  the  consideration  that  if  they  can 
get  the  girls  they  will  soon  have  the  mothers,  and  if 
the  mothers,  the  children  that  may  follow,  and  conse- 
quently the  country. 

The  Portland  Academy  and  Female  Seminary  de- 
serves particular  notice.  This  institution  is  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is  under 
the  control  and  patronage  of  the  Oregon  Conference. 
It  is  almost  coeval  in  existence  with  Portland  itself, 
having  been  built  as  early  as  1849  or  1850. 

The  Kev.  James  H.  "Wilbur  was  the  agent,  in  the 
hands  of  Provideiice,  in  originating  and  carrying 
forward  to  completion  this  important  educational 
enterprise.  He  bared  his  arm  to  the  physical  labor, 
as  well  as  the  superintendency  of  the  business,  and  as 
a  result,  before  leaving  Portland  for  a  southern  field 
he  saw  the  building  prepared  for  occupancy,  and  a 
school  in  saccessful  operation,  under  the  tuition  of 
one  abundantly  competent  to  sustain  its  interests. 
Rev.  C.  S.  Kingsley  was  the  successful  principal  and 
conductor  of  this  institution  for  several  years,  and  it 


Jill    ■!   f 


106 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Ill:) 

m 


I     ',; 


attained  to  a  high  position  as  a  seminary  of  learning 
under  his  skillful  management.  It  has,  however, 
with  all  such  institutions  in  Oregon,  on  account  of  the 
smallness  of  the  population,  and  a  want  of  adequate 
means  of  support,  experienced  some  reverses ;  but  at 
the  present  time,  under  the  able  management  of 
T.  M.  Gatch,  A.  M.,  f-^merly  president  of  the  "Willa- 
mette University,  it  is  sharing  an  unusual  degree  of 
prosperity. 

The  Churches  of  Portland  are  a  distinguishing 
feature  of  its  institutions. 

The  following  are  the  principal,  though  there  may 
be  other  associations  claiming  to  be  Churches  not  here 
named :  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  Old 
School  Presbyterian,  the  Congregational,  the  Baptist, 
the  Methodist,  South,  the  Protestant  Episcopal,  the 
Roman  Catholic,  and  a  Synagogue  of  the  Jews. 
Most  of  these  are  flourishing  Churches,  and  are 
doing  much  for  the  cause  of  Christianity  in  Port- 
land and  the  surrounding  country.  As  in  most 
other  places  on  the  Pacific  coast,  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  is  the  oldest  in  the  place,  being  in  ex- 
istence coeval  with  the  town  itself.  As  it  claims 
priority  of  occupancy,  so  it  has  been  regarded  as  the 
leading  Church  in  Portland  in  its  influence  upon  the 
masses  of  the  community.  In  its  early  history,  and 
under  the  skillful  management  of  Eev.  J.  II.  Wilbur, 
the  society  erected  for  that  period  a  good  and  com- 
fortable house  of  worship.  Subsequently,  under  the 
administration  of  Rev.  David  Rutledge,  now  of  Ten- 
nessee, this  house  was  reconstructed  and  improved. 


UJ 


OEEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


107 


It  is  now  being  displaced,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
C.  0.  Stratton,  bj  the  erection  of  a  splendid  brick 
gothic  church  edifice,  which  would  not  be  disparaging 
to  one  of  the  fine  avenues  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

The  periodicals  of  Portland  constitute  another  of 
its  important  institutions.  These  are  the  daily  and 
weekly  Herald,  by  the  Oregon  Herald  Company ; 
the  daily  and  weekly  Oregonian,  by  Henry  L.  Pit- 
tock  ;  the  weekly  Pioneer,  a  German  paper,  by  Wal- 
ther  &  Landenburger ;  the  Pacific  Christian  Advo- 
cate, edited  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Benson ;  and  M'Cormick's 
Almanac,  which  has  become  of  itself  a  permanent  in- 
stitution of  the  country,  having  been  published  annu- 
ally for  fourteen  years. 

The  above  periodicals  are  all  important  as  auxil- 
iaries in  the  great  work  of  developing  and  advancing 
the  interests  of  our  young  and  growing  state,  and 
some  of  them  have  become  so  identified  with  all  our 
operations,  and  linked  with  all  our  interests,  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  discontinue  them  without 
seriously  impairing  all  those  interests.  This  is  em- 
phatically true  in  reference  to  the  Pacific  Christian 
Advocate.  This  important  aid  to  the  propagation  of 
Christianity  in  general,  and  the  advancement  of  the 
denominational  interests  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  particular,  has  become  to  the  country  a 
fundamental  necessity.  Scarcely  more  so  are  either 
our  institutions  of  learning,  or  our  active,  living  min- 
istry. An  extent  of  country  six  hundred  miles  in 
length  and  five  hundred  in  breadth  depends  mainly 
upon  the  Pacijio  C^>  isiian  Advocate  for  its  religious 


■;  I 


108 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


reading  and  news.  In  all  that  vast  region  nothing 
could  possibly  supply  its  place.  Nothing  from  the 
eastern  states,  nothing  from  any  other  portion  of  the 
Pacific  coast.  The  PcLcifio  Advocate,  like  leaves 
from  the  tree  of  life,  falls  at  the  doors  of  hundreds  of 
families,  blessing  them  with  its  healing  virtue,  and 
bearing  to  their  hearts  the  messages  of  peace  and 
love.  It  is  vital  to  every  interest  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  within  the  limits  of  the 
Oregon  Conference.  It  has  now  entered  the  thir- 
teenth year  of  its  publication. 

In  this  enumeration  of  the  institutions  of  Portland 
the  National  College  of  Business  and  Commerce 
should  not  be  omitted,  as  it  has  become  one  of  the 
permanent  establishments  of  the  city.  Its  object  is  to 
confer  upon  all  who  desire  to  avail  themselves  of  it 
the  advantage  of  a  thorough  business  education.  The 
institution  is  under  the  presidency  of  M.  K.  Lauden, 
Esq.,  whose  reputation  for  ability  and  extensive  busi- 
ness acquirements  are  a  sufficient  guaranty  for  the 
thoroughness  of  the  instructions  given.  An  ordinary 
English  education  is  all  that  is  required  to  enter  the 
school,  and  the  average  time  to  complete  the  whole 
course  is  from  twelve  to  sixteen  weeks,  according  to 
the  advancement  and  application  of  the  student. 
This  young  institution  is  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
having  its  pupils  from  all  parts  of  the  state.  It  must 
be  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  future  business  of 
our  young  commonwealth.  This,  with  those  we 
have  already  mentioned,  together  with  mutual  in- 
surance companies,  publishing  houses,  banking  estab- 


4 


fiir 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


109 


lishments,  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows,  and  Good  Templar 
Lodges,  not  forgetting  the  Oregon  Fire  Works  Com- 
pany, with  its  laboratory  near  Port  land,  constitute 
the  principal  institutions  of  the  flourishing  county 
of  Multnomah,  and  its  beautiful  and  thriving  city 
Portland  of  the  Pacific. 


CLACKAMAS  COUNTY. 

The  country  included  within  the  limits  of  this 
county  is  diversified  by  hills,  valleys,  prairies,  and 
woodlands,  the  latter,  however,  predominating.  It 
is  an  interesting  portion  of  the  state,  and  is  bounded 
north  by  Multnomah,  east  by  the  Cascade  Mount- 
ains, south  by  Marion,  and  west  by  Washington  and 
Multnomah  counties.  It  has  a  population  of  four 
thousand  two  hundred,  there  being  a  large  prepon- 
derance of  males  ^ver  females. 

By  the  last  assessment  the  property  was  valued  at 
one  milli'.  i.  ^ix  hundred  and  five  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  ninety-four  dollars.  The  land  cultivated  in 
1867  was  only  six  thousand  and  sixty-two  acres.    . 

Oregon  City  is  the  county  seat,  and  boasts  of  being 
the  oldest  incorporated  city  of  the  state. 

This  city  has  many  advantages,  arising  from  the 
fact  that  it  is  located  in  the  very  channel  of  trade 
through  the  country,  and  commands  one  of  the  most 
extensive  water  privileges  in  the  state.  Here  the 
whole  Willamette  River  plunges  down  a  precipice  of 
thirty  feet  perpendicular,  forming  a  most  valuable 
power,  as  well  as  an  object  of  great  beauty. 


»;<; 


;  I 


5  V  ■    •'l 


f'-i  i     MJI 


!:»  U 


!-!         ii 


110 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


This  city,  commencing  at  the  falls,  stretches  along 
down  the  east  bank  to  the  river  for  a  mile  and  a  half, 
and  bad  some  distance  on  to  the  hill,  and,  containing 
many  beautiful  private  dwellings,  several  churches,  a 
large  and  commodious  public  school-house,  a  court- 
house, and  other  interesting  objects,  it  presents  a  de- 
lightful appearance  as  you  approach  it  from  the  di- 
rection of  Portland.  It  is  twelve  miles  from  the 
latter  place,  and  steamers  ply  between  the  two  every 
few  hours.  A  daily  line  of  stages  also  passes  through 
the  town. 

Its  manufacturing  character  has  been  mentioned 
elsewhere,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

The  first  frame  Christian  church  that  was  ever 
erected  on  the  northwest  Pacific  coast  was  located 
here.  It  was  commenced  in  1842  by  Rev.  A.  F. 
Waller,  who  was  then  a  missionary  at  this  point,  and 
80  far  completed  in  1844  as  to  be  opened  for  public 
worship  by  the  writer  of  this  sketch.  The  church  is 
indeed  an  historical  one,  and  to  be  considered  among 
the  permanent  institutions  of  the  country.  Connected 
with  the  church  is  a  parsonage  property  of  consider- 
able value,  and,  taken  altogether,  this  constitutes  one 
of  the  pleasantest  stations  in  the  Oregon  Conference. 
This  county  derives  its  name  from  the  Clackamas 
River,  which  divides  it  into  two  nearly  equal  parts. 
The  other  points  of  inteiost  in  the  county  are  Mil- 
waukee, six  miles  below  Oregon  City  on  the  Willa- 
mette River,  Clackamas,  Clear  Creek,  Beaver  Creek, 
and  Baker's  Prairie.  The  county  is  every  way  capa- 
ble of  sustaining  a  vast  increase  of  its  present  popu- 


If 


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FIRST     CHURCH      IN     CREOON. 


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OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


113 


lation.  Oswego,  which  is  also  in  Clackamas  County, 
with  its  extensive  iron  works,  has  been  considered  in 
the  general  account  of  the  valley. 

This  county,  from  the  position  which  it  occupies, 
commanding  as  it  does  the  main  channel  of  trade 
through  the  state,  possessing  almost  boundless  water 
power,  and  combining  extensive  agricultural  and 
mineral  interests,  should  be  classed  among  the  most 
important  and  valuable  portions  of  the  state. 


\i 


Mi 


'M 


COLUMBIA  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Co- 
lumbia Kiver,  on  the  east  by  the  Columbia  and  Mult- 
nomah, on  the  south  by  Washington  County,  and  on 
the  west  by  the  county  of  Clatsop.  Its  population  is 
small,  amounting  to  about  five  hundred.  The  num- 
ber of  voters  at  the  last  election  was  one  hundred 
and  seventy-three.  This  county  is  very  long,  ex- 
tending for  many  miles  along  the  south  bank  of  the 
Columbia,  embracing  a  broad  range  of  timbered  hills 
that  reach  back  for  several  miles  from  the  river. 
These  hills  are  many  of  them  rich  in  soil,  and  afford 
great  lumbering  facilities  on  account  of  the  excellence 
of  timber  that  adorns  their  summits,  and  the  ease 
with  which  this  timber  can  be  cast  into  the  river. 
There  is  less  than  one  thousand  acres  of  land  under 
cultivation  in  the  county,  and  according  to  the  last 
assessment  the  assessable  property  amounted  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
seventy  dollars.      St.  Helens,  named  after  a  snow- 


^ 


n 


:lv,i 


1 


ill 

V.' 


IN 


I  r>u-;^ 


114 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


crowned  mountain  of  the  same  name — a-beantiful 
view  of  which  may  be  had  from  this  locahty — is 
situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Columbia  River, 
north  of  Portland  the  distance  of  thirty  miles.  It  is 
the  seat  of  justice,  and,  besides  occupying  a  very 
beautiful  locality,  is  a  place  of  growing  importance. 
Religious  and  educational  institutions  keep  pace  with 
the  improvements  of  the  town,  and  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  the  extensive  and  beautiful  plateau 
in  the  rear  of  the  town  will  be  adorned  by  delightful 
cottages  and  country  seats.  Rainier,  named  after 
another  snow-covered  mountain,  and  some  twenty 
miles  below  St.  Helens,  is  also  a  point  of  some  in- 
terest, though  commanding  no  very  cheering  pros- 
pect of  future  growth. 

BAKER  COUNTY. 

The  name  of  the  patriot,  orator,  and  statesman,  the 
gallant  Colonel  E.  D.  Baker,  who  fell  at  Ball's  Bluff, 
in  the  late  civil  war,  and  whom  Oregon  delighted  to 
honor,  is  perpetuated  in  the  name  of  this  county, 
which  is  situated  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
state.  The  topography  of  this  county  is  exceedingly 
variegated  and  beautiful.  It  embraces  within  its 
limits  extensive  tracts  of  excellent  agricultural  and 
grazing  lands,  which  are  now  occupied  by  an  intelli- 
gent and  energetic  people.  This  county  has  come 
into  existence  in  its  political  organic  character  very 
suddenly,  and  mainly  through  the  discovery  of  valu- 
able gold   and   silver  mines,   which  already   have 


III 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


115 


yielded  large  amounts  of  money,  and  are  being  rap- 
idly developed.  Auburn  is  the  county  seat,  and  is 
located  three  hundred  miles  from  Salem,  the  capital 
of  the  state,  by  the  usual  route,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  Portland.  Baker  City,  another 
important  point,  is  delightfully  situated  in  the 
Powder  River  Valley,  ten  miles  southeast  of  Au- 
burn. This  valley  comprehends  a  vast  amount  of' 
excellent  and  beautiful  country,  as  also  inexhaustible 
stores  of  mineral  wealth.  Religiously  and  morally, 
it  is  purely  a  missionary  field.  Its  religious  and 
literary  institutions — its  churches  and  school-houses 
— are  yet  to  be  established. 

GRANT  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  situated  directly  west  of  Baker 
County,  and  between  it  and  the  Cascade  Mountains. 
It  embraces  an  excellent  pastoral  and  grazing  country, 
with  considerable  tracts  of  good  land  for  agricultural 
purposes.  It  is  also  rich  in  mineral  wealth,  and  large 
quantities  of  gold  are  taken  annually  from  its  gulches 
and  canons.  The  character  of  its  surface  is  similar  to 
many  other  portions  already  described,  so  far  as  re- 
lates to  its  scenery.  Its  population  by  the  last  census 
was  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty ;  two  thou- 
sand males  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  females.  Num- 
ber of  voters  thirteen  hundred.  Its  assessed  property 
was  two  hundred  and  ninety-five  thousand  dollars. 
The  seat  of  justice  of  this  county  is   Canon  City, 

which  is  built  on  the  middle  fork  of  John  Day's 

8 


J 
i 


ill 


I'l 


,rA 


I  :''''^i 

m 

116 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


River,  and  is  about  three  liundred  and  sixty  milea 
from  Salem,  by  the  usual  route,  and  three  hundred 
and  ten  from  Portland.  This  is  a  new  county,  and, 
with  Baker,  is  in  a  state  of  formation  in  respect  to  all 
of  its  interests.  It  has  but  five  thousand  acres  of 
its  land  under  cultivation,  while  tens  of  thousands 
await  the  implements  of  husbandry  to  develop  their 
ample  though  hidden  stores,  and  confer  upon  their 
occupants  homes  and  plenty. 

POLK  COUNTY.  ♦ 

This  county  is  bounded  south  by  Yamhill  County, 
east  by  Marion,  from  which  it  is  separated  by  the 
Willamette  River,  south  by  Benton  County,  and  west 
by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  It  has  an  area  of  about  twelve 
hundred  and  fifty  square  miles,  equal  to  about  eight 
hundred  thousand  acres  of  land.  It  embraces  a  sec- 
tion of  the  Coast  Range  of  mountains,  ia  which  there 
are  many  depressions,  and  narrow  valleys  of  excel- 
lent land,  which,  however,  is  covered  with  a  dense 
growth  of  timber.  The  eastern  half  of  the  county  is 
well  adapted  to  grazing  and  agricultural  purposes, 
and  is  already  being  brought  into  a  state  of  hand- 
some cultivation  and  improvement.  Indeed,  some  of 
the  finest  farms  in  the  state  are  to  be  found  in  some 
of  the  valleys  of  this  county.  There  are  two  streams 
that  have  their  source  in  the  Coast  Range  of  mount- 
ains, which,  running  east,  and  empty  into  the  Wil- 
lamette River,  and,  with  their  tributaries,  water  the 
eastern  half  of  the  county ;  these  are  the  La  Creole 


Y'mi 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


117 


and  Luckimiite :  and  tlicro  aro  other  Btreanis  that 
run  westward  from  tlio  same  source  and  empty 
into  the  Pacific  Ocean,  Situated  on  the  La  Cre- 
ole is  the  beautiful  town  of  Dallas,  which  is  the 
county  seat.  This  town  is  within  fifteen  miles  of 
Salem,  the  capital,  and  is  sixty  miles  southwest  from 
Portland. 

The  eastern  half  of  the  county  is  as  densely  popula- 
ted as  any  of  the  farming  portions  of  the  state,  and 
contains  a  po!  alation  of  about  five  thousand  souls. 
The  votes  cast  at  the  last  election  numbered  eleven 
hundred  and  twenty-five.  Acres  of  land  under  culti- 
vation, ninety  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven,  being  nearly  twice  as  much  as  any  other 
county  in  the  state.  The  assessable  property  was 
valued  at  one  million  thirty-three  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-nine  dollars.  This  county,  besides 
possessing  abundant  agricultural  resources,  is  finely 
situated  for  commerce,  the  steamboats  plying  on  the 
Willamette  River  all  along  her  eastern  border  afibrd- 
ing  her  ample  means  for  both  importation  and  expor- 
tation. Besides  Dallas,  there  are  a  number  of  places 
of  considerable  importance  within  the  limits  of  this 
county.  Eola,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and 
five  miles  above  Salem ;  Independence,  seven  miles 
further  up ;  Monmouth,  two  miles  back  from  Inde- 
pendence; and  Buenavista,  seven  miles  up  from 
Independence,  are  all  beautiful  and  flourishing  little 
towns,  and  are  sustained  by  a  fine  farming  country 
around  them. 

This  county  has  made  of  lato,  as  indeed  it  may  be 


,i 


!    i 


118 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


said  of  nearly  all  the  counties  in  the  state,  very  great 
advancement  in  regard  to  schools  and  academies. 
Common  schools  are  numerous  and  well  sustained, 
and  there  are  several  schools  that  have  attained  to 
the  dignity  of  academics.  Dallas  and  Bethel  are 
the  seats  of  institutions  of  the  latter  kind.  Mon- 
mouth, which  is  really  the  most  delightful  loca- 
tion in  Polk  County,  is  the  seat  of  an  institution 
which  is  laboring  with  some  success  to  sustain  the 
character  of  a  college.  This  institution  is  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Christian  Church,  better  known 
outside  of  that  particular  denomination  as  Camp- 
bellites.  The  school,  with  all  other  institutions  of 
the  kind  in  Oregon,  has  had  its  reverses ;  but,  on  the 
whole,  promises  to  become  a  successful  auxiliary  in 
the  promotion  of  the  educational  interests  of  the 
state. 


U  "■' 


UNION  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  also  situated  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Oregon,  and  comprehends  a  section  of  the  Blue 
Mountain  Range.  It  is  most  remarkably  diversified 
in  its  scenery,  and  embraces  one  of  the  handsomest 
and  most  fertile  valleys  in  the  state.  This  valley  is 
called  the  Grand  Hound.  It  is  circular  in  its  form, 
and  about  twenty  miles  in  diameter.  It  is  now 
occupied  by  a  farming  and  pastoral  population. 

The  town  of  Le  Grande  is  situated  in  this  val- 
ley, and  is  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  county.  It 
is  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles  east  from 
Salem  in  a  direct  line,  and  about  the  same  distance 


^m 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


119 


from  Poi-tland.  The  county  contains  a  population 
of  about  two  thousand,  and  cast  at  the  last  election 
seven  hundred  and  five  votes.  The  county,  with 
respect  to  all  its  interests,  is  in  an  embryo  state,  but 
it  has  a  basis  in  its  agricultural  and  mineral  resources 
which  will  enable  it  to  grow  into  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  and  wealthy  counties  east  of  the  Cascade 
Mountains. 


UMATILLA  COUNTY. 

This  county  lies  mainly  in  the  great  valley  between 
the  Blue  Mountains  and  the  Cascade  Range.  It  is  a 
fine  county  of  land,  wonderfully  diversified  and 
interesting  in  its  scenery,  and  is  destined  ultimately 
to  contain  a  heavy  population.  The  present  popu- 
lation is  about  two  i-houBand,  and  the  number  of 
votes  cast  was  seven  hundred  and  ninety-seven.  The 
number  of  acres  under  cultivation  is  five  thousand 
seven  hundrea  and  seventy,  while  the  assessable 
property  is  valued  at  eight  hundred  and  eighty-seven 
thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  dollars.  Uma- 
tilla City  is  the  county  seat,  and  is  situated  directly 
on  the  Columbia  Eiver,  and  is  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  miles  east  from  Portland,  and  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  miles  from  Salem  by  the  usual 
route.  It  is  a  place  of  very  considerable  importance, 
as  it  constitutes  a  landing-place  for  all  the  sup- 
plies of  goods  and  people  destined  for  the  mining 
camps  in  Eastern  Oregon  and  the  southern  part  of 
Idaho. 

Within  the  limits  of  this  covmty  is  the  Umatilla 


i/U« 


i  ,  m 


120 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Indian  reservation,  which  includes  one  of  the  most 
valuable  parts  of  the  county. 

This  county  also  is  in  a  forming  state,  and  requires 
a  few  years  for  its  resources  to  become  developed, 
and  then  it  will  doubtless  take  rank  among  the  best 
counties  of  Oregon. 


J ,;' 


WASCO  COUNTY. 

This  interesting  portion  of  Oregon  derived  its 
name  from  the  tribe  of  Indians  who  occupied  the 
country  when  the  whites  began  to  settle  within  their 
territory.  These  Indians  were  called  the  Wasco 
tribe,  and  the  principal  point  or  portion  of  their 
country,  embracing  the  Dalles  of  the  Columbia,  was 
called  Wascopam.  Hence  the  name  of  the  county. 
It  lies  immediately  east,  and  embraces  the  foot  hills, 
and  even  much  of  the  higher  portions  of  the  Cascade 
Mountains.  In  its  topography  it  is  remarkably  di- 
versified, and  in  point  of  interesting  and  impressive 
scenery  is  equal  to  any  county  within  the  limits  of 
the  state,  and  probably  to  any  canton  in  far-famed 
Switzerland.  It  is  not  necessary  for  an  American  to 
go  to  Switzerland  nor  Italy,  to  the  Alp6  Jior  to  the 
Apennines,  nor  to  any  other  foreign  country,  to 
enjoy  the  divine  sensations  resulting  from  the  con- 
templation of  scenery  infinitely  more  g,rand  than  it 
is  possible  for  the  imagination  to  paint ;  he  only 
needs  to  perform  a  passage  from  Vancouver  up  the 
Columbia  River  through  the  tremendous  canon  of 
more  than  eighty  miles  in  length,  and  gaze  upon 


Fr'l  1 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


121 


rocks  piled  upon  rocks,  abutments  on  the  top  of 
abutments,  basaltic  columns  rising  above  columns, 
and  mountains  heaped  on  mountains,  and  old  Hood 
lifting  his  hoary  head  far  up  into  the  blue  vault 
of  heaven,  and  looking  down  upon  the  clouds  that 
hang  around  him  thousands  of  feet  below  his  shim- 
mering summit,  and  he  cannot  fail  to  be  convinced 
of  the  utter  insignificance  of  the  works  of  art,  and 
of  the  impossibility  of  tho  most  skillful  artist  ever 
being  able  to  copy  to  the  life  the  picture  here  painted 
by  the  hand  of  the  great  Artist  of  the  universe. 
Such  is  the  soenery  presented  to  the  eye  of  the 
traveler  in  passing  up  the  Columbia  to  Dalles  City, 
the  county  seat  of  Wasco  County.  Indeed,  tlie 
whole  county,  as  to  its  surface,  presents  a  picture  in 
which  is  blended  beauty,  romance,  sublimity,  and 
grandeur  in  equal  proportions,  and  like  the  kaleid- 
oscope, offers  to  the  traveler  an  ever-varying 
scene. 

This  county  is  bounded  north  by  the  Columbia 
River,  east  by  Umatilla  County,  south  its  limits  are 
indefinite,  and  west  by  the  Cascade  Mountains.  Its 
population  is  about  two  thousand  souls.  Number  of 
voters  six  hundred  and  four.  Value  of  assessable 
property  one  million  seven  hundred  and  seventy-one 
thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty  dollars. 

Dalles  City,  the  county  seat,  is  situated  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Columbia,  and  is  distant  from 
Salem,  by  the  way  of  the  Willamette  and  Cohjmbia 
Hivers,  one  hundred  and  sixty- five  miles,  and  from 
Portland  one  hundred  and  fifteen  miles.     The  town 


* . 


A. 


i 


122 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


pays  considerable  attention  to  schools  and  cliurclies, 
and  other  means  of  improvement.  The  Mountaineer, 
a  lively  weekly  paper,  is  published  by  Mr.  William 
Hand,  and  receives  its  share  of  public  patronage. 


ii  ■■ 


WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

This  county  embraces  the  country  drained  by  the 
Tuality  River,  known  a»  the  Tuality  Plains.  These 
plains  have  been  considered  in  the  general  description 
of  the  country,  and  here  it  may  only  be  said  that 
they  are  second  to  none  in  beauty  and  fertility  in 
any  part  of  the  state.  They  now  constitute,  perhaps, 
the  most  thickly  settled  of  any  of  the  farming  com- 
munities. The  population  of  the  county  by  the  last 
census  was  three  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety- 
one.  Number  of  voters  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
four,  and  the  amount  of  land  under  cultivation  is 
twenty-six  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-three 
acres.  The  county  seat  of  "Washington  County  is 
Hillsborough,  which  is  built  on  a  most  delightful 
plain  near  a  branch  of  Tuality  River. 

Hillsborough  is  sixty  miles  north  of  Salem,  and 
eighteen  miles  west  from  Portland.  Besides  Hills- 
borough, there  are  many  other  points  of  interest  in 
this  county  which  might  be  considered  if  space  would 
permit.  Among  these  Forest  Grove  should  not  be 
omitted.  This  place,  situated  twenty  miles  west  of 
Port\p.nd  and  iifty-six  north  from  Salem,  is  the  loca- 
tion of  an  institution  of  learning  under  the  patronage 
of  the  Congregational  Church,   called  the   Paeifio 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


123 


University.  It  was  established  at  an  early  da}"  in 
the  history  of  Oregon,  being  only  second  in  age  to 
the  "Willamette  University.  The  Rev.  Harvey  Clark, 
of  whom  menti*^"!  has  been  made  in  this  work,  was 
the  principal  instrument  of  bringing  this  university 
into  existence,  but  he  did  not  long  live  to  see  its 
advancement. 

It  has  often  felt  the  pressure  arising  from  a  sparse 
population  and  limited  means.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Marsh, 
who  for  some  years  has  been  the  president  of  this 
"university,  lias  succeeded  in  placing  it  upon  a  more 
permanent  basis  by  raising  an  endowment  fund  of 
some  forty  thousand  dollars.  This  was  done  in  the 
Atlajitic  States.  Dr.  Marsh  made  two  visits  to  the 
East,  spending  in  all  some  three  years  of  time,  during 
which  he  visited  many  portions  of  the  country,  the 
eastern  cities,  Kew  York,  Boston,  and  other  cities, 
presenting  before  the  people,  privately  and  publicly 
as  he  had  opportunity,  the  claims  of  that  institution 
upon  the  benevolence  of  the  Church,  and  as  a  result 
bore  with  him  to  the  Pacific  coast  the  funds  which 
he  had  raised,  thereby  placing  the  institution  upon 
a  firm  footing,  and  establishing  a  power  for  the  con- 
ferment of  blessing  upon  untold  generations. 

There  are  also  many  flourishing  public  schools 
within  the  limits  of  this  county,  and  the  children  are 
generally  brought  within  the  means  of  acquiring  an 
education. 

Religious  institutions  abound  and  flourish  in  this 
county.  There  are  several  prosperous  Christian 
Churches  established  here,  and  some  of  the  earliest 


•■  i « . 


'I'M 


"    ■    !! 


124 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


efforts  wliicli  were  made  on  the  coast  to  build  up  re- 
ligious societies  were  made  on  these  beautiful  plains. 
On  a  pleasant  Sabbath,  early  in  April,  1841,  the 
Rev.  A.  F.  Waller  and  the  writer  preached  the  first 
sermons  that  were  ever  heard  in  this  portion  of  the 
laud,  and  from  that  time  until  the  present  religion 
has  had  a  place  within  what  is  now  Washington 
County. 

The  Methodists,  Congregationalists,  and  Baptists 
all  have  comfortable  houses  of  worship,  and  the 
people  are  generally  liberal  in  supporting  the  insti- 
tutions of  the  Church. 

These  delightful  plains  have  easy  access  to  the 
waters  of  the  Willamette  River  at  Oregon  City  and 
Portland,  and  to  the  Columbia  River  at  St.  Helens, 
by  good  roads  leading  to  these  places.  Washington 
County,  in  fine,  embraces  a  very  valuable  portion  of 
the  state,  and  is  second  to  none  in  everything  relating 
to  improvements  in  all  the  departments  of  husbandry, 
as  well  as  in  respect  to  all  those  institutions  which 
are  designed  more  especially  for  the  promotion  of  the 
moral  and  intellectual  wellbeing  of  its  population. 


YAMHILL   COUNTY. 

A  tribe  or  class  of  Indians  who  were  the  original 
proprietors  of  the  land  embraced  in  this  county,  and 
a  beautiful  river  which  runs  through  its  entire  extent, 
were  known  by  the  name  of.  Yamhill  by  the  aborig- 
ines long  before  the  country  was  occupied  by  the  pale 
faces.     This  accounts  fully  for  the  origin  of  the  name 


B..-1 


JIM 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


125 


of  tlie  county.  This  county  is  bounded  on  the  nortli 
by  Washington  and  Clackamas,  on  the  east  by  the 
Willamette  River,  on  the  south  by  Polk  County,  and 
on  the  west  by  the  Coast  Eange  of  mountains,  which 
separate  it  from  Tilamook  and  Clatsop  counties.  It 
comprises  not  only  a  very  magnificent,  but  also  a 
very  rich,  fertile,  and  lovely  portion  of  the  state  of 
Oregon.  It  is,  as  with  many  other  counties,  wonder- 
fully diversified  by  lovely  valleys,  extended  plains, 
gentle  undulations,  rising  grounds,  and  lofty  emi- 
nences, and  these  are  all  characterized  by  a  naturally 
rich  and  productive  soil. 

Tlie  county  contains  a  population  of  upward  of 
four  thousand  souls,  with  a  preponderance  of  four 
hundred  males  over  the  females.  At  the  last  elec- 
tion the  votes  cast  numbered  one  thousand  and 
eighty-two. 

The  number  of  acres  of  land  under  cultivation  was 
twenty-six  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-three. 
Assessable  property  was  valued  at  one  million 
dollars. 

Lafayette,  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Yamhill 
River,  and  five  miles  from  where  that  river  empties 
into  the  Willamette,  is 'the  county  seat.  It  is  located 
twenty-four  miles  northwest  of  Salem,  and  thirty 
miles  southwest  of  Portland.  It  is  most  delightfully 
located  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  agricultural  country, 
and  is  yearly  advancing  in  commerce  and  population. 
It  has  a  court-house,  a  church,  and  an  academy,  which 
imply  that  its  financial,  spiritual,  and  intellectual 
necessities  are  provided  for  and  secured.     Below  La- 


Piitl 


r,!i 


i} 


126 


OEEGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


■       Wi 


fayette  two  miles,  on  the  same  river,  is  the  town  of 
Dayton,  which  is  also  a  growing  place.  A  steamer 
runs  regularly  to  this  place  from  Oregon  City.  Here 
is  a  commodious  Methodist  church  and  parsonage, 
and  from  this  point,  in  a  circuit  of  some  fifteen  miles, 
there  are  three  other  Methodist  churches,  besides  those 
that  belong  to  other  denominations.  South  of  La- 
fayette some  four  miles  is  situated  the  beautiful  vil- 
lage of  M'Minnville.  This  is  one  of  the  most  de- 
lightful spots  in  the  Yamhill  country,  and  the  agents 
of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Oregon,  to  whom  the  re- 
sponsibility was  committed,  displayed  not  only  good 
judgment,  but  fine  taste  in  selecting  this  place  for 
the  location  of  their  principal  literary  institution  in 
Oregon.  This  is  called  the  M'Minnville  College,  and 
will  doubtless  work  its  way  into  a  permanent  univer- 
sity. This  institution  has  for  some  years  been  under 
the  general  direction  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  Chandler,  aided 
by  a  corps  of  professors  and  teachers  fully  qualified 
not  only  to  elevate  the  character  of  the  school,  but 
to  insure  its  future  permanence  and  prosperity. 
Common  schools,  those  fruitful  adjuncts  of  acade- 
mies and  colleges,  abound  also  in  this  county  in 
every  neighborhood  able  to  support  them.  The 
other  places  of  note  in  this  county  are  Amity, 
Mountain  House,  North  Yamhill,  Sheridan,  and 
West  Chehalem ;  but  they  must  be  passed  with  the 
general  remark  that  they  help  to  make  up  one  of  the 
most  beautiful,  fertile,  and  desirable  counties  included 
within  the  limits  of  the  Willamette  Valley. 


«  ,  il 


:  -M 


•  ,f  i-  ^i 


in' 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


129 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HISTORY  or  THE  OREGON  INSTITUTE  AND  WILLA- 
METTE  UNIVERSITY. 

The  history  of  all  nations  proves  that  science  and 
literature  flourish  most  where  the  foundations  of  soci- 
ety are  laid  in  the  principles  of  a*pure  Christianity. 

For  untold  ages  the  great  Pacific  slope  of  the 
N^orth  American  Continent  had  been  enveloped  in 
almost  impenetrable  darkness,  and  the  wandering 
tribes  of  savage  barbarians  which  roamed  over  its 
extended  plains  were  as  untamed  and  ignorant  as 
the  wild  beasts  by  which  they  were  surrounded  ;  but 
at  length  was  heard  over  this  region  of  the  valley  and 
shadow  of  death  the  voice  of  Providence,  saying, 
"  Let  there  be  light,"  and  there  was  light. 

Heathen  hands  were  outstretched  from  these  Cim- 
merian realms,  and  hea,then  voices  were  heard  im- 
ploring for  the  Christian's  book  and  the  white  man's 
God.  Connected  with  the  introduction  of  Christian 
civilization  into  the  Pacific  world,  and  leading  to 
that  important  event,  was  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing circumstances  that  ever  transpired  in  the  history 
of  any  heathen  nation.  It  was  this :  A  deputation 
of  Indians  from  one  of  the  principal  tribes  inhabiting 
this  vast  region  of  night,  who  had  heard  of  the  exist- 
ence of  the  white  man,  and  of  his  superior  knowledge, 


M 


•■•■  f  j 

i 

■i 


m 


li^ 


'■i  ■■ 


130 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


traversed  tlie  whole  distance  from  the  waters  of  Ore- 
gon to  the  frontiers  of  Missouri,  exposed  to  the  fury 
of  hostile  clans  and  beasts  of  prey,  for  the  purpose  of 
learning  from  General  Clark,  who  was  then  the  su- 
perintendent of  Indian  affairs  for  the  whole  western 
world,  the  truth  of  what  they  had  heard  concerning 
the  white  man's  worship  and  civilization.  This  won- 
derful event  was  hailed  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  as  the  clear  expression 
of  the  will  of  heaven  that  a  gospel  mission  should  be 
at  once  established  iti  the  benighted  regions  bordering 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  Measures  were  taken  to  carry  a 
resolution  formed  to  this  effect  into  immediate  execu- 
tion, and  in  the  month  of  June,  1833,  the  Rev.  Jason 
Lee,  of  Stanstead,  Canada  East,  was  ordained  in  New 
England  by  Bishop  Hedding,  and  was  appointed  to 
the  superintendency  of  a  mission  which  lie  was  au- 
thorized to  establish  in  the  tenitorv  of  Oreeron.  In 
the  following  August  Rev.  Daniel  Lee,  a  nephew  of 
Jason,  was  appointed  to  accompany  his  uncle,  and 
early  in  March,  1834,  they  left  New  England  for  the 
Pacific  shores,  accompanied  by  Cyrus  Shepherd,  a 
lay  member  of  the  Church.  On  reaching  what  was 
then  considered  the  far  West,  they  were  to  accompany 
the  expedition  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Wyeth,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, who  was  intending  to  proceed  to  Oregon 
for  purposes  of  traffic  among  the  Indian  tribes.  On 
their  progress  westward  from  New  England  they 
held  missionary  meetings  in  all  the  principal  towns 
through  w^hich  they  passed,  and  great  interest  was 
excited  in  the  public  mind  in  relation  to  the  enter- 


r 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


181 


prise.  On  the  twenty-liftli  of  April  they  had  reached 
tlie  frontiers,  and  on  that  day,  having  been  joined  by 
P.  L.  Edwards,  of  Missouri,  also  a  lay  member,  they 
left  civilized  societv  behind  them,  and  started  on 
their  perilous  journey  across  the  trackless  wilds. 
They  penetrated  the  deeiiest  recesses  of  savage  life, 
aild  experienced  all  manner  of  hardships  and  depri- 
vations and  exposures  incident  to  journey ings  over 
thousands  of  miles  of  almost  unexplored  regions, 
beset  on  every  hand  by  hostile  savages  and  beasts  of 
prey ;  but,  preserved  in  the  midst  of  the  imminent 
and  multiplied  dangers  by  which  they  were  sur- 
rounded by  a  merciful  Providence  through  the  many 
months  of  their  wearisome  toil  across  the  arid  deserts, 
on  the  twenty-first  day  of  September,  1834,  they 
found  themselves  in  the  territory  of  Oregon,  on  the 
banks  of  the  beautiful  Willamette  River,  ten  miles 
below  the  spot  where  the  city  of  Salem  now  stands, 
and  there  they  commenced  laying  the  foundations  of 
Christian  civilization  in  this  western  world. 

Up  to  that  period  unbroken  heathenism  had 
reigned  from  Arkansas  to  the  waters  of  the  great 
Pacific,  and  from  the  hyperborean  regions  of  Alaska 
to  the  country  of  the  Montezumas.  But  in  the 
order  of  the  divine  economy  another  state  of  things 
was  now  to  be  introduced.  The  dominions  of  dark- 
ness were  to  be  invaded,  "the  wilderness  and  the 
solitary  places  were  to  be  glad  for  them,  and  the 
desert  to  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose."  Simple 
were  the  means  employed,  but  grand  have  been  the 
results  secured. 


m 


i  , 
ill'  ' 

J 

1 

132 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


At  tlie  time  these  missionaries  of  the  cross  located 
themselves  on  the  Willamette  there  were  no  white 
children  on  all  the  Pacific  slope  of  the  continent 
of  North  America,  and  but  very  few  white  men. 
There  were,  however,  a  few  Englishmen,  Scotchmen, 
and  Canadian  French,  who  were  connected  with  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  had  married  Indian 
wives,  and  rejoiced  as  the  fathers  of  half-caste  chil- 
dren; and  at  Vancouver  there  were  a  few  children 
that  were  three  fourths  white,  their  fathers  •being 
white  men  and  their  mothers  half-caste.  These  were 
also  connected  with  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 
So  soon  as  these  devoted  missionaries  had  establishe.d 
themselves  at  their  post  on  the  "Willamette,  and  had 
thrown  up  a  log-cabin  to  shelter  those  that  might 
remain  from  the  storms  of  winter,  one  of  their  num.- 
ber  proceeded  to  Vancouver  and  commenced  a  school 
for  the  benefit  of  the  half-breed  and  other  children 
at  that  post,  and  the  others  commenced  teaching  the 
children  of  the  natives  of  the  country  the  rudiments 
of  science  and  religion,  and  preaching  the  Gospel  to 
the  members  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  to 
such  other  straggling  white  men  as  had  preferred  to 
remain  in  the  country  rather  than  return  to  civiliza- 
tion with  the  companies  with  which  they  had  been 
connected,  and  also  to  the  Indians  as  far  as  it  was 
possible  to  get  their  attention.  They  gathered  to- 
gether some  dozens  of  Indian  children  in  tlie  little 
log  school-hoase  which  they  had  erected  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  immediately  established  what  was  denomi- 
nated the  "  Oregon  Mission  Manual  Labor  School." 


■5'i 


1 


iiif 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


133 


ol." 


This  school,  and  the  one  at  Yancouver  already  men- 
tioned, were  the  first  that  were  opened  on  the  Pacific 
coast  for  instruction  in  the  English  lang-uae-e. 

The  school  on  the  Willamette  in  a  few  years  be- 
came afloui^ishing  institution,  and  gare  great  promise 
of  future  usefulness  to  the  Indian  race.  Mr.  Slocum, 
who,  under  the  auspices  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  visited  Oregon  in  1837,  remarks  in 
relation  to  this  school  as  follows:  "It  is  indeed  a 
source  of  regret  tha'.  I  could  continue  no  longer  at 
your  mission  on  the  banks  of  the  Willamette,  for 
the  visit  was  to  me  one  of  exceeding  interest.  On 
my  return  to  the  civilized  portions  of  our  country  I 
shall  not  hesitate  to  express  my  humble  opinion  that 
you  have  already  efiected  a  great  public  good,  by 
practically  showing  tliat  the  Indians  west  of  the 
llocky  Mountains  are  capable  of  the  union  of  mental 
and  physical  discipline  as  taught  at  your  establish- 
ment. For  I  have  seen  with  my  own  eyes  children 
who  two  years  ago  were  roaming  their  own  native 
wilds  in  a  state  of  savage  barbarism,  now  being 
brought  within  the  knowledge  of  moral  and  religious 
instruction,  becoming  useful  members  of  society  by 
being  taught  the  most  useful  of  all  arts,  agriculture, 
and  all  this  without  the  slightest  compulsion."  The 
prosperity  of  the  school  and  tlie  general  state  of  the 
country  seemed  to  demand  an  increase  in  the  number 
of  Christian  laborers ;  accordingly  Mr.  Lee  addressed 
letters  to  the  Missionary  Board  in  New  York,  ear- 
nestly  soliciting  them  to  send  out  a  reinforcement. 

l^  compliance  with  this  recpiest,  the  Board  a])pointcd 

0 


■  ;  i 


134 


OREGON  iND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Dr.  Elijah  White  and  wife,  Mr.  Alanson  Peers  and 
wife,  Miss  Ann  Maria  Pitman,  Miss  Susan  Downing, 
Miss  Elvira  Johnson,  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Wilson,  assist- 
ant missionaries.  This  company  sailed  from  Boston 
in  July,  1836,  and  performing  the  voyage  round 
Cape  Horn,  arrived  safely  in  the  Willamette  Yalley 
on  the  27th  day  of  May,  1837.  On  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember following  the  mission  settlement  was  again 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  Kev.  David  Leslie  and 
family.  Rev.  H.  K.  W.  Perkins,  and  Miss  Margaret 
Smith. 

Sixteen  adult  persons  were  now  connected  with 
the  mission,  and  at  the  close  of  1837  they  were  all  at 
or  near  the  Willamette  station,  and  were  laboring  in 
their  respective  departments,  not  without  effect ;  some 
in  sustaining  the  interests  of  the  mission  school,  some 
in  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  Callapooias  and  other 
Indians  and  to  the  few  white  men  who  had  begun  to 
gather  around  the  mission,  some  in  the  mechanical 
branches,  and  some  in  taking  care  of  the  mission 
farm  and  the  rapidly  increasing  stock  of  cattle  and 
horses.  Though  some  of  the  members  of  the  mission 
school  had  died  during  the  year,  yet,  in  view  of  all 
the  circumstances  surrounding  them,  the  missionaries 
were  greatly  encouraged,  and  began  to  take  measures 
for  the  enlargement  of  their  work.  A  new  mission 
station  was  established  at  the  Dalles  of  the  Columbia, 
and  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  all  the  mission- 
aries, expressed  in  a  meeting  held  for  general  con- 
sultation, that  provision  should  l)e  made  for  llie  sup- 
ply of  other  portions  of  the  extended  field.     They 


mi:  i 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


135 


:hey 


considered  tliat  "  the  harvest  was  plenteous,  wliile 
the  laborers  were  few;"  and  they  passed  a  unanimous 
resolution  advising  the  superintendent,  Rev.  Jason 
Lee,  to  make  a  visit  to  the  United  States  for  the  pur- 
pose of  representing  before  the  Board  of  Managers 
V  t'  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  tlie  public  generally,  the  true  condition 
of  the  country  and  of  the  Indians,  and  soliciting  the 
men  and  means  which,  in  their  judgment,  were 
necessary  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  mis- 
sionary work. 

Mr.  Lee  concurred  in  the  opinions  thus  expressed 
by  the  members  of  the  mission,  and  accordingly  took 
leave  of  his  wife  and  brethren  on  the  Willamette  on 
the  2Gt'i.  of  March,  1838,  and  commenced  the  long 
and  bu'-::  i'dous  journey  back  across  the  Rocky  Mount 
aic  .. 
the  Hii 

boyp  i'  ':■.  ^  ee  and  his  company  made  the  tedious 
and  dangerous  transit  in  safety,  and  on  the  Ist  of 
September  he  arrived  at  the  Methodist  mission 
among  the  Shawnees,  then  under  the  superintend- 
ency  of  the  Ilev.  Mr.  Johnson,  and  having  at  night 
retired  to  his  room,  he  was  offering  up  a  tribute  of 
tb  i.  ksgiving  to  Him  who  had  been  his  preserver 
wii.-  *n  his  toilsome  journey  through  the  hostile 
tj*ibc:o  jf  the  mountains,  when  he  heard  a  rap  at  his 
door.  Rising,  he  admitted  the  stranger,  who  phiced 
a  package  of  letters  in  his  hands  and  immediately 
loft  the  room.  He  broke  the  black  seal  of  one,  and 
the  lirst  line  conveyed  to  him  the  heart-rending  in- 


Jd.c.  vas  accompanied  by  P.  L.  Edwards,  of 
■i'.''-i,  Mr.  Ewing,  of  Missouri,  and  two  Indian 


136 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


telHgence  that  his  Ann  Maria  and  her  little  son  were 
numbered  with  t]  <    lead. 

Sorely  afflicted  u  loss  which  he  had  sustained, 

a  knowledge  of  whicn  xd  been  communicated  by  an 
express  sent  by  his  friends  in  Oregon,  after  resting  a 
few  days  he  proceeded  on  to  New  York,  where  he 
arrived  about  the  1st  of  November,  and  at  once  zeal- 
ously engaged  in  accomplishing  the  objects  of  his 
visit  to  the  United  States.  On  the  14th  he  was 
present  at  a  meeting  of  the  Missionary  Board,  and 
stated  at  length  the  object  of  his  visit.  He  urged 
with  much  earnestness  the  importance  of  extending 
the  missionary  work  in  Oregon  ;  and,  in  view  of  this, 
he  pleaded  with  great  zeal  the  necessity  of  sending 
to  that  country  a  large  reinforcement.  In  his  opinion 
it  was  essential,  for  the  prosperity  of  the  mission,  to 
supply  it  with  the  requisite  means  to  furnish  itself 
with  all  the  means  of  support,  and  all  the  necessary 
implements  for  husbandry  and  mechanical  purposes 
should  be  sent  out  by  the  Board.  To  meet  all  these 
demands  would  require  a  very  heavy  outlay,  and 
for  this  and  some  other  reasons  Mr.  Leo  met  with 
strong  opposition  from  some  of  the  members  of  the 
Board,  who  sincerely  doubted  the  expediency  of  the 
measure;  but  the  superintendent,  who  had  just 
come  from  the  field  of  operations,  perseveringly  and 
powerfully  urged  the  claims  of  the  mission  until  he 
succeeded  in  obtaining  all,  and  more  than  all  he 
requested. 

As  a  result  of  his  interviews  with  the  Board,  the 
latter,  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  Gth  of  December,  1838, 


OEEGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


137 


,■1 


m 


passed  a  resolution  to  send  to  Oregon  five  additional 
missionaries,  one  physician,  six  mechanics,  four  farm- 
ers, one  steward  or  accountant,  and  four  female 
teachers,  making  i  hirty-six  adult  persons.  Connected 
with  the  different  familes  were  seventeen  children, 
making  the  aggregate  fifty-three.  These  were  all 
selected  and  appointed  within  a  few  months,  the  lay- 
men by  Dr.  Bangs  and  Mr.  Lee,  and  the  missionaries 
by  Bishop  Hedding,  who  at  the  time  had  the  charge  of 
the  foreign  missions.  This  company  was  collected  from 
almost  every  part  of  the  United  States,  and  w^as  the 
largest  mission  family  that  had  ever  sailed  at  one  time 
from  any  American  port.  They  left  the  port  of  New 
York,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Lee  himself,  on  the  9th  of 
October,  1839,  in  the  ship  Lausanne,  and  going  by 
the  way  of  Cape  Horn  and  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
arrived  in  Oregon  in  May,  1840.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  the  persons  belonging  to  this  expedi- 
tion who  subsequently  were  connected  with  the  great 
educational  enterprise  of  the  country,  whose  history 
it  is  the  object  of  the  following  pages  to  trace: 
Eev.  A.  F.  Waller,  Rev.  Gustavus  Ilines,  Rev.  J.  L. 
Parrish,  Rev.  L.  II.  Jwdson,  Rev.  James  Olley,  Doctor 
J.  L.  Babcock,  Mr.  George  Abernethy,  Mr.  Hamilton 
Campbell,  M.  H.  B.  Brewer,  Mr.  AV.  W.  Raymond, 
and  their  families ;  and  Miss  C.  A.  Clark,  (now  Mrs. 
Wilson,)  Miss  Elmira  Phillips,  Miss  Almira  Phelps, 
(now  Mrs.  Ilolman,)  and  Miss  Orpha  Lancton,  (now 
Mrs.  M'Kinney.)  There  were  other  persons  con- 
nected with  this  large  reinforcement  who  came  out 
as  missionaries,  but  as  they  remained  in  the  country 


nsl 


'M 


138 


OREGON"  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Inlll 

'    -liflflfliHi' 

>i 


but  a  short  time,  and  had  nothing  to  do  in  the  matter 
of  providing  for  the  educational  wants  of  the  popula- 
tion, it  is  not  necessary  to  mention  them  particularly 
in  this  history.  Some  of  the  members  of  the  last 
reinforcement  were  sent  into  other  portions  of  the 
work,  but  most  of  them  received  their  appointments 
vrithin  the  Willamette  Yalley. 

At  this  time  the  missionaries  themselves  and  their 
families  constituted  quite  a  large  colony,  their  num- 
ber being  about  seventy-five,  embracing  upward  of 
twenty  children.  Situated  as  they  were,  the  parents 
could  not  educate  thf  ^'r  own  children,  and  they  began 
already  to  feel  the  necessity  of  having  a  public  school 
established,  where  they  could  place  their  children  for 
education,  and  have  them  separated  from  those  influ- 
ences arising  from  the  heathenism  by  which  they  were 
surrounded.  Besides  these  already  named,  all  of 
whom  were  directly  connected  with  our  missionary  es- 
tablishment, there  were  beginning  to  be,  as  early  as 
1841,  some  immigrants  from  the  Eastern  States,  and 
other  portions  of  the  world,  who  had  settled  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  country,  constituting  already  quite  a 
growing  community.  Childreif  and  youth  were  be- 
coming somewhat  numerous,  and  were  growing  up 
in  comparative  ignorance,  and  the  general  voice 
seemed  to  call  loudly  upon  the  friends  of  science  to 
make  one  united  eifort  in  some  way  to  furnish  means 
to  supply  the  pressing  educational  demands  of  the 
infant  though  rising  colony. 

The  community  generally  looked  to  those  who 
were   connected  with  the  Oregon   Mission  to  take 


"»   ".5 :}  f '^^f  r  I  ■ 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


139 


the  lead  in  the  grand  enterprise,  and,  accordingly,  a 
meeting  of  the  members  of  the  mission,  and  all  others 
interested  in  the  subject,  was  called  on  the  17th  day 
of  January,  1842,  by  the  Eev.  Jason  Lee,  superin- 
tendent of  the  mission,  at  his  own  house  at  what 
was  then  known  as  Cheraekete,  now  North  Salem, 
for  the  purpose  of  consultation  upon  the  subject  of 
English  education  in  Oregon,  and  to  prepare  the 
way  for  the  speedy  establishment  of  a  literary  insti- 
tution which  should  meet  the  wants  of  the  growing 
community. 

Little  more  was  done  at  this  first  meeting  than  to 
discuss  the  general  question  of  education  as  the  great 
want  of  the  country,  and  to  appoint  a  committee  to 
call  a  public  meeting,  and  to  prepare  business  for  the 
consideration  of  such  meeting  in  reference  to  the 
contemplated  institution. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Babcock,  David  Leslie,  and  Gustavus 
Hines  were  appointed  that  j3ommittee.  According 
to  instruction,  general  notice  was  given,  and  the 
meeting  was  called  to  be  held  at  what  was  then  be- 
ginning to  be  known  as  "  the  Old  Mission,"  on  the 
1st  day  of  February,  1842.  The  house  where  this 
primary  public  meeting  for  the  promotion  of  educa- 
tion in  Oregon  was  held  was  the  original  mission 
house  which  was  erected  by  Mr,  Lee  in  1834  on  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Willamette  Kiver,  near  the  place 
known  in  past  years  as  Garrison's  Landing,  and  one 
half  mile  above  the  present  little  town  of  Wlieatland. 

The  tide  of  influence  which  was  then  and  there  set 
in  motion  by  the  action  of  that  meeting  will  roll  on 


» 


Ml 


ir 

li 

f^ 

1     ■     ! 

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is- 

1   ■   ■ 

f 

, 

ft 

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140 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


OLD  MISSION  HOUSE  IN  OREOON. 


in  its  elevating  and  purifying  course,  increasing  in 
volume  and  power  to  the  end  of  time ;  but  the  house 
itself,  made  memorable  by  many  other  hallowed 
associations,  and  the  ground  upon  which  it  was  loca- 
ted, by  the  ceaseless  action  of  the  waters  of  the  river 
have  long  since  been  swept  away.  In  addition  to 
the  members  of  the  mission,  the  meeting  was  well 
attended  b^^  the  friend^  of  education  ip  the  country 
generally,  among  whom  was  the  Rev.  Harvey  Clark, 
of  precious  memory,  a  minister  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  who,  by  his  judicious  counsel  contributed 
much  to  the  promotion  of  the  objects  of  the  meeting. 
After  a  careful  survey  of  the  whole  ground,  and  a 
thorough  investigation  of  all  the  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  accomplishing  the  object,  it  was  unanimously 
resolved  not  simply  to  make  the  attempt,  but  pos- 
itively to  proceed  to  establish  a  collegiate  institution 
for  the  benefit  of  the  rising  generation  of  Oregon. 
Ketreat  and  failure  were  terms  that  were  entirely 
rejected  from  the  vocabulary  of  the  men  who  were 


OEEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


141 


tlie  originators  of  the  important  measures  that  were 
to  result  in  tlie  establishment  of  the  first  collegiate 
institution  on  the  waters  of  the  great  Pacific. 

The  name  by  which  the  institution  should  be 
known  became  a  subject  of  considerable  discussion, 
and  it  was  finally  moved  by  G.  Hines,  and  seconded 
by  J.  L.  Babcock,  that  it  should  be  called  The  Oregon 
Institute.  This  motion  prevailed,  and  the  meeting 
then  proceeded  to  organize  the  institution  by  the 
election  by  ballot  of  a  board  of  nine  trustees.  After 
balloting  twice  the  following  persons  were  declared 
duly  elected  the  first  board  of  trustees  for  the  Oregon 
Institute : 

Rev.  Jason  Lee,  Rev.  David  Leslie,  Rev.  G.  Hines, 
Rev.  J.  L.  Parrish,  Rev.  L.  H.  Judson,  Mr.  George 
Abernethy,  Mr.  Alanson  Beers,  Mr.  H.  Campbell,  and 
Dr.  J.  L.  Babcock. 

A  committee  was  also  elected  by  this  meeting 
called  the  committee  of  location,  consisting  of  Rev. 
Jason  Lee,  Rev.  G.  Hines,  Rev.  D.  Leslie,  Rev.  H. 
Clark,  and  Dr.  J.  L.  Babcock. 

This  committee  proceeded  at  once  to  survey  vari- 
ous localities  in  the  valley  to  find  a  suitable  place  at 
which  to  locate  the  buildings  of  the  institute,  and 
reported  in  favor  of  the  upper  end  of  the  high  prairie 
known  as  the  French  Prairie,  a  very  beautiful  locality, 
but  defective  in  the  accommodation  of  living  water. 
For  this  reason  it  was  subsequently  abandoned  ;  and  it 
was  finally  resolved  that  the  Oregon  Institute  be  loca- 
ted on  what  was  then  called  the  "  Wallace  Prairie." 
The  land  selected  for  the  claim  of  the  institute  was 


l: 


\ 


142 


OBEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


the  same  that  is  now  owned  by  Asahel  Bush  and 
the  gentlemen  Keizer,  two  miles  and  a  half  below 
the  city  of  Salem. 

To  set  the  whole  thing  in  motion,  the  next  step 
taken  was  to  adopt  measures  to  draw  up  a  prospectus  to 
present  to  the  public,  and  a  constitution  and  code  of 
by-laws  for  the  government  of  the  school.  Accord- 
ingly, at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  on  March  9th, 
1842,  it  was  resolved  to  appoint  a  committee  of  three 
to  accomplish  the  above  object,  and  report  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  Board.  The  persons  appointed 
on  this  committee  were  L.  H.  Judson,  J.  L.  Farrish, 
and  G.  Hines. 

Without  anything  to  guide  them  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  their  work  except  their  own  judgment, 
this  committee  produced  the  following  prospectus, 
constitution,  and  code  of  by-laws,  and  reported  them 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  on  the  15th  of  March, 
at  the  house  of  L.  H.  Judson,  in  North  Salem.  This 
report,  with  slight  alterations  by  the  Board,  was 
unanimously  adopted: 


PBOSPEfTUS. 

To  all  whom  it  may  concern.  Whereas  it  is  be- 
lieved to  be  highly  important,  and  indispensably 
necessary  to  the  future  welfare  of  this  rising  com- 
munity, that  a  permanent  literary  institution  be 
established  in  this  valley,  of  such  a  character  as  fully 
to  meet  the  present  and  prospective  wants  of  the 
children  and  youth  of  Oregon,  in  which  they  may 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


143 


receive  that  intellectual  and  moral  training  wliicli 
alone  can  prepare  them  for  respectability  and  use- 
fulness ;  therefore  a  respectable  number  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Willamette  settlement  have  entered 
into  arrangements  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds 
and  carrying  into  operation  a  respectable  boarding- 
school. 

It  is  also  contemplated,  so  soon  as  the  community 
and  the  resources  of  the  institution  shall  justify  it, 
that  it  will  become  a  university.  The  contemplated 
institution  is  to  be  called  the  "Oregon  Institute," 
and  to  be  located  on  the  Wallace  Prairie,  on  an 
eminence  about  one  half  mile  south  of  the  place 
occupied  by  Baptist  Delcour,  near  a  fountain  of 
living  water.  A  constitution  has  been  adopted 
which,  in  order  to  secure  the  best  education  of  the 
pupils  in  science,  morality,  and  piety,  places  the 
institution  in  the  hands  of  that  society  of  evangelical 
Protestant  Christians  which  shall  first  pledge  itself  to 
sustain  it,  and  also  making  it  the  right  of  any 
person  who  shall  subscribe  at  any  one  time  fifty 
dollars  or  more,  and  pay  the  same  according  to  the 
terms  of  subscription,  to  be  associated  with  said 
society  in  the  transaction  of  all  business  pertaining 
to  the  institution. 

A  board  of  nine  trustees  has  been  appointed, 
whose  terms  of  ofiice  are  to  expire  as  follows : ,  three 
at  each  annual  meeting  of  the  society  pledged  to 
sustain  the  school,  at  which  time  there  shall  be  three 
others  elected  to  fill  their  place. 


I 


H'SM 


144 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE   OREGON  INSTITUTE,   ADOPTED 

MARCH  15,  1843. 

Article  I. 

Whereas  the  Oregon  Institute  is  designed  not 
only  to  promote  science,  but  morality  and  piety, 
therefore  this  institution  shall  always  be  under 
the  supervision  of  some  evangelical  branch  of  the 
Protestant  Church. 

Article  n. 

The  institution  shall  be  an  academical  boarding 
school  as  soon  as  practicable ;  and  whenever  it  shall 
be  deemed  expedient  by  the  proper  authorities  to 
make  it  a  university  it  shall  be  so  constituted. 

Article  III. 

The  primary  object  of  this  institution  is  to  educate 
the  children  of  white  men  /  but  no  person  shall  be 
excluded  on  account  of  color,  provided  their  character 
and  qualifications  be  such  as  are  required  in  the 
by-laws  of  the  institution.    ,    - 

Article  IV. 
There  shall  be  nine  trustees  for  this  institution, 
who  shall  be  elected  tri-annually  by  the  society  which 
shall  first  pledge  itself  to  sustain  the  institution,  two- 
thirds  of  whom  shall  be  members  of  said  society, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  hold  in  trust  for  said  society 
all  the  property  of  said  institution,  consisting  of  real 
estate,  notes,  bonds,  securities,  goods  and  chattels, 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


145 


etc.,  belonging  to  it;  and  any  person  who  bIkiU  sub- 
scribe at  any  one  time  fifty  dollars  or  upward  shall 
be  entitled  to  a  voice  in  all  the  business  meetings  of 
the  society  which  relate  to  the  institution. 

Article  V. 
There  shall  be  a  visiting  committee  appointed  by 
the  society  contem])lated  in  the  fourth  article,  or  i)y 
such  organized  body  of  the  same  Church  as  shall  be 
selected  by  said  society,  whose  duty  it  'shall  be  to 
examine  all  the  departments  of  the  institution,  and 
report  the  result  to  the  public  at  large. 

Article  VI. 
There  shall  be  a  steward  connected  with  the  insti- 
tution, who  shall  have  the  charge  of  the  boarding 
department,  and  also  of  all  the  children  who  board 
in  the  institution  while  they  are  not  under  the 
care  of  their  instructors. 

Article  VII. 

In  the  literary  departments  there  shall  be  a  male 
and  female  branch,  subject  to  the  control  of  male 
and  female  teachers,  and  so  conducted  as  best  to 
promote  science,  morality,  and  piety. 

Article  Mill. 
This  Constitution  may  be  altered  at  any  annual 
meeting  of  the  society  above  named  by  a  vote  of 
two  thirds  of  the  members  present,  excepting  article 
first,  which  shall  not  be  altered  or  amended. 


m 


,.!l! 


r  .fiwfw.'oiP 


146 


OEEGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


Article  IX. 

There  shall  be  an  annual  meeting  of  the  society 
pledged  to  sustain  the  institution,  to  be  held  the  last 
Monday  in  May  in  each  year.  Said  annual  meeting 
shall  fill  all  vacancies  in  the  Board  of  Trn  ^^tees,  and 
either  appoint  the  visiting  committee  or  make  choice 
of  some  organized  body  for  that  purpose,  and  trans- 
act such  other  business  as  may  be  deemed  proper 
which  does  not  contravene  this  Constitution. 

ArticijE  X. 
Should  no  society  pledge  itself  to  sustain  the 
institution  previous  to  the  last  Monday  in  May,  A.  D. 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  ?.nd  forty-two,  then  the 
business  of  the  institution  shall  be  transacted  by 
those  who  subscribe  fifty  dollars  or  upward  at  any 
one  time  for  the  support  of  the  institution,  till  some 
society  shall  give  a  pledge  to  sustain  it. 

s 

BY-LAWS  ADOPTED   MARCH  15,  1842. 

Section  I. 
As  soon  as  four  thousand  dollars  shall  be  sub- 
scribed the  trustees  shall  proceed  and  erect  buildings, 
and  prepare  for  the  contemplated  school. 

Section  IL 
Any  person  of  color  who  may  desire  to  be  ad- 
mitted as  a  pupil  shall  procure  testimonials  of  a  good 
moral  character,  and  that  the  candidate  can  read 


i.l 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


147 


and  write  so  as  to  be  understood,  and  speak  the  En- 
glish language  intelligibly. 

Section  III. 
The  present  truste  3  shall  divide  themselves  into 
three  equal  classes  by  casting  lots.  The  offices  of 
those  composing  the  first  class  shall  terminate  in 
May,  A.  D.  1843,  the  second  class  one  year,  and  the 
third  class  two  years  thereafter,  at  each  of  which 
times  there  shall  be  three  trustees  chosen  to  fill  such 
vacancies;  and  tliere  shall  be  annually  tliereafter 
as  many  trustees  chosen  as  shall  fill  all  vacancies 
which  may  be  occasioned  by  death  or  otherwise. 

Section  IV. 
Any  person  who  shall  subscribe  to  the  funds  of  the 
institution  fifty  dollars  or  more  at  any  one  time, 
and  shall  pay  the  same  according  to  the  terms  there- 
of, shall  receive  a  certificate  of  patronage,  signf>d 
and  sealed  by  the  president  and  secretary  of  tue 
Board,  which  certificate  shall  entitle  the  receivur  to 
a  voice  in  all  the  business  of  the  society  relating  to 
the  institution  during  his  natural  life. 


ad- 


read 


Section  V. 
Any  person  who  shall  subscribe  to  the  funds  of  the 
institution  at  any  one  time  five  hundred  dollars,  and 
pay  the  same  according  to  the  terms  thereof,  shall 
receive  a  certificate  of  scholarship,  signed  and  sealed 
as  in  the  above,  which  certificate  shall  entitle  him  or 


148 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


his  heirs  to  the  tuition  of  one  scholar  perpetually  in 
the  iustitution. 

Section  VI. 
All  subscriptions  less  than  fifty  dollars  shall  be 
paid  within  six  months  from  the  time  of  subscribing. 

Section  Vn. 

..Ml  subscriptions  of  fifty  dollars,  and  not  exceeding 
three  hundred  dollars,  shall  be  paid  in  four  equal  in- 
stallments, due  semi-annually  from  the  time  of  sub- 
scribing. 

Section  VIII. 

All  subscriptions  of  three  hundred  dollars  or  more 
shall  be  paid  as  follows :  One  fourth  at  the  annual 
meeting  next  succeeding  the  time  of  subscribing,  tlie 
remainder  in  semi-annual  payments  of  fifty  dollars 
each  till  the  whole  shall  be  paid. 

Section  IX. 
Any  person  who  has  subscribed  to  the  funds  of  the 
institution  at  any  one  time  one  hundred  dollars  or 
more  shall  be  allowed  at  any  one  time  thereafter  to 
increase  his  subscription  to  five  hundred  dollars,  in 
which  case  his  former  subscription  shall  be  reckoned 
as  a  part  of  the  sum  necessary  to  entitle  him  to  a 
certificate  of  scholarship  as  provided  for  above. 


l!Sll 


Section  X. 
No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  ofiice  of  trustee, 
or  steward,  or  visiting  committee,  or  receive  eniploy- 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


149 


ment  as  a  teacher,  wlio  denies  tlie  authenticity  of  the 
sacred  Scriptures. 

Section  XI. 

The  ste-srard  and  teachers  sliall  draw  up  a  code  of 
regulations  for  tlie  internal  management  of  the  insti- 
tution, which  shall  be  laid  before  the  Board  of  Trust- 
ees for  amendment  or  approval. 

sectiok  xn. 

The  above  sixth,  seventh,  and  eighth  sections  of 
by-laws  shall  not  take  effect  until  the  pledge  of  sup- 
port contemplated  in  the  constitution  shall  be  given. 

Section  Xin. 
The  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  is  hereby 
authorized  to  call  a  meeting  of  said  Board  whenever 
he  shall  be  requested  to  do  so  by  three  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Board. 


k ' 

■    i    ; 

': 

Section  XIV. 
The  chairman  and  secretary  of  the  Board  shall 
be  elected  annuallv,  at  which  time  there  shall  be 
three  trustees  elected. 


I  'i\ 


Section  XV. 


It  shall  be  the  duty  o^  the  trustees  to  report  the 
state  of  the  finances  to  each  annual  meeting. 


For  the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect  the  objects 
set  forth  in  the  foregoing  prospectus,  constitution, 
and  by-laws,  a  subscription  [)aper  was  drawn  up  and 


10 


150 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


i 


circulated  through  the  community  to  raise  the  neces- 
sary funds. 

The  history  would  not  be  complete  if  this  paper  in 
its  original  form  were  not  to  be  printed. 

The  following  is  a  true  copy  of  this  first  subscrip- 
tion ral^'^d  in  Oregon  for  the  establishment  of  a  lit- 
erary institution,  and  the  names  of  all  the  subscribers, 
■with  the  amounts  donated. 


'■   !■! 


SUBSCRIPTION. 

We  whose  names  are  hereunto  appended  promise 
to  pay  to  the  collector  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  the 
pums  set  to  our  names,  according  to  the  following 
conditions :  All  subscriptions  less  than  fifty  dollars 
within  six  months  after  subscribing ;  subscriptions  of 
fifty  dollars,  and  less  than  three  hundred,  in  four 
equal  semi-annual  installments  from  the  time  of  sub- 
scribing ;  subscriptions  of  three  hundred  dollars,  and 
upward,  one  fourth  at  the  first  annual  meeting  suc- 
ceeding the  time  of  subscribing ;  the  remainder  in 
Bemi-annual  installments  of  fifty  dollars  each. 

The  above  conditions  of  payment  are  not  to  take 
effect  until  some  evangelical  branch  of  the  Protestant 
Church  shall  pledge  itself  to  sustain  the  insti.ution. 

All  donations  to  the  institution  shall  be  paid  as 
follows :  At  least  one  third  iu  cash  orders  on  the 
mission  or  Vancouver,  and  the  remainder  in  tame 
neat  cattle,  lumber,  labor,  wheat,  or  cash,  according 
to  the  choice  of  the  donors,  said  property  to  be  de- 
livered at  the  institution  at  the  market  prices. 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS.  151 

subscribers'  names.  amount. 

L.  H.  Jiitlson $500 

Joseph  Gale 100 

Jason  Lee 500 

Gustaviia  Ilines 300 

Hamilton  Campbell 100 

Eltnira  Phillips 50 

James  Olley 100 

Joseph  Holman 100 

David  Leslie 500 

J.  L.  Parrish 200 

W.  W.  Raymond 200 

Josepli  L.  Whitcomb 100 

J.  L.  Babcock IGO 

A.  Beers 300 

Daniel  Lee 100 

H.  B.  Brewer 200 

Robert  Shortess 100 

James  Bates 50 

James  S.  O'Neil 50 

Orpha  Carter 10 

W.  H.  Gray 50 

A.  F.  Waller 200 

At  the  time  this  subscription  was  raised  the  entire 
business  of  the  community  was  done  by  the  way  of 
barter  trade,  as,  properly  speaking,  there  was  no 
cash  or  money  in  the  countrj'^,  and  the  casli  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  subscriptions  simply 
means  accepted  orders  either  upon  the  mission  store 
at  Oregon  City,  or  upon  the  Hittison's  Bay  Company 
at  Yancouver. 

To  show  the  earnestness  and  liberality  with  which 
this  enterprise  was  carried  forward  it  will  be  proper 
to  observe  that,  in  proportion  to  the  means  possessed, 
perhaps  there  never  was  a  better  subscription  raised 
lor  any  similar  purpose,  many  of  the  persons  cheer- 
fully giving  from  one  quarter  to  one  third  of  all  they 
possessed  in  the  world.  The  subscription,  amounting 
to  about  four  thousand  dollars,  was  thought  to  be 


'■1  ■  ■ 


:  H 


152 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


sufficient  to  warrant  the  erection  of  buildin^is ;  but 
there  were  difficulties  in  the  way ;  the  whole  matter 
was  yet  afloat. 

The  constitution  which  the  Board  had  adopted 
proviued  that  the  school  should  always  be  under  the 
supervision  of  some  branch  of  the  Christian  Church ; 
and  further,  that  it  should  be  that  branch  that  should 
first  come  forward  and  enter  into  a  pledge  to  patron- 
ize and  sustain  the  institution.  And  the  by-laws 
also  provided  that  no  subscription  was  binding  until 
this  pledge  of  patronage  and  support  was  duly  given. 
It  was  therefore  very  clear  that  until  some  Church 
should  assume  this  res]"'onsibility,  and  adopt  this  in- 
stitution as  its  own,  all  the  efforts  of  the'  Board  to 
build  up  the  school  would  be  greatly  trammeled,  and 
perhaps  prove  entirely  abortive.  The  Congregational 
Church  had  already  been  organized,  with  its  center 
at  the  Tuality  Plains,  but  it  was  yet  too  feeble  to 
sustain  such  a  charge ;  and  as  there  was  no  other 
branch  of  the  evangelical  Church  in  Oregon  that 
seemed  either  disposed  or  prepared  to  occupy  such  a 
position,  and  as  the*public  generally  seemed  to  be 
looking  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to  take 
the  initiation  in  this  grand  enterprise,  a  meeting  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Gustavus  Hines,  known  as 
the  "  Old  Parsonage,"  in  which  it  was  resolved  that 
the  Pev.  Jason  Lee,  the  superintendent  of  the  Oregon 
Mission,  be  respectfully  requested  to  call  a  meeting 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Oregon,  botli 
ministers  and  laymen,  to  take  into  consideration  the 
importance  of  receiving  the  Oregon  Institute  under 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


153 


its  care,  and  pledging  itself  to  patronize  and  support 
it.  Accordingly  the  Church  and  friends  of  the  enter- 
prise were  called  to  meet  at  the  place  of  the  above 
meeting  on  October  26,  1842,  and  there,  after  a  most 
thorough  investigation  of  the  whole  subject,  on  a  mo- 
tion made  by  Dr.  Elijah  White,  and  seconded  by  Rev. 
A.  F.  "Waller,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that,  as  a 
branch  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States,  we  take  under  our  care,  and  pledge 
ourselves  to  make  every  reasonable  effort  to  sustain, 
the  Oregon  Institute.  Previously  to  this  act  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  a  body,  of  receiving 
the  institute  under  a  pledge  of  support,  the  property 
was  in  the  hands  of  an  irresponsible  Board ;  but 
the  conditions  of  ownership  expressed  in  the  con- 
stitution and  by-laws  having  been  complied  with  by 
this  action  of  the  Church,  the  school,  and  all  that  ap- 
pertained to  it,  was  transferred  to  the  proprietorship 
of  that  body.  Lest  there  might  be  some  doubt  as  to 
the  propriety  and  validity  of  this  course  of  procedure 
another  general  meeting  of  the  Church  and  commun- 
ity was  called  on  May  29,  1843,  at  the  institute 
premises  on  AVallace  Prairie,  and  a  resolution  was 
presented  by  Rev.  David  Leslie,  and  seconded  by  L. 
II.  Judson,  that  this  meeting,  in  behalf  of  tlie  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  and  the  subscribers  to  the 
Oregon  Institute,  do  hereby  recognize  the  present 
Board  of  Trustees,  and  approve  of  their  doings. 
Nearly  every  subscriber  was  present  on  the  occasion, 
and  voted  in  favor  of  the  resolution  ;  and  henceforth 
the  Oregon  Institute  was  regarded  as  the  property, 


Jlt' 

■  j 

i 

'" 
5 

Vf.f 

r't 

154 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


and  under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Immediately  after  this  action 
tlie  Church,  then  assembled,  proceeded  to  fill  the 
vacancies  which  had  occurred  in  the  Board  by  resig- 
nation, and  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service  of 
the  first  class.  W.  H.  Wilson  was  elected  to  take 
the  place  of  J.  L.  Babcock,  who  had  resigned,  and 
"W.  Ilauxhurst,  Alanson  Beers,  and  W.  H.  Gray  to 
fill  the  first  class,  Mr.  Gray  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  or  Congregational  Church,  and  had 
been  for  some  years  connected  with  the  mission  in 
the  interior  among  the  Cayuses,  under  the  direction 
of  the  American  Board ;  but  he  had  applied  for  and 
obtained  a  release  from  any  further  service  to  them, 
that  ho  might  become  the  general  superintendent 
and  secular  agent  of  the  Oregon  Institute.  He  was 
accordingly  engaged  by  the  Board  at  a  salary  of  four 
hundred  dollars  per  annum.  A  building  committee 
had  also  been  constituted  to  take  measures  to  erect 
a  suitable  house  for  the  purposes  contemplated,  and 
Mr.  Gray  was  authorized  to  draw  upon  the  Board  for 
the  requisite  funds,  and  up  to  November  16,  1843, 
there  had  been  expended  upon  the  house  about  three 
thousand  dollars. 

At  this  date  ceased  the  action,  in  connection  with 
the  Board,  of  one  of  its  most  prominent  and  efficient 
members,  and  one  whose  name  is  to  occupy  in  the 
history  of  Oregon  the  first  place  among  the  pioneers 
of  Christian  civilization  upon  the  Pacific  slope, 
namely,  Kev.  Jason  Lee.  This  indefatigable  laborer 
in  the  cause  of  humanity  received  his  birth  in  the 


""'^F! 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


155 


township  of  Stanstead,  Canada  East,  but  was  mainly 
educated  in  the  Wilbraham  Academy,  in  the  state 
of  Massachusetts,  under  the  tuition  of  the  hunented 
Dr.  "Wilbur  Fisk.  When  it  was  determined  by  the 
Church  to  send  missionaries  to  Oregon  over  the 
Eocky  Mountains,  he  was  selected  by  the  authorities 
of  the  Church  as  a  suitable  person  to  be  placed  at 
the  head  of  the  grand  enterprise.  Yielding  to  the 
solicitations  of  Dr.  Fisk,  from  a  conviction  of  duty 
lie  left  the  domains  of  civilization,  and,  accompanied 
by  a  few  self-denying  and  kindred  spirits,  in  the  year 
1834  he  penetrated  the  deepest  recesses  of  savage 
barbarism,  and  finally  emerging  from  the  deiiles  of  the 
Cascade  Mountains  into  the  lovely  valleys  of  Oregon, 
he  commenced  the  work  of  laying  the  foundations 
for  the  erection  of  a  Christian  civilization  upon  these 
western  shores.  Oregon  became  at  once  the  country 
of  his  adoption  and  the  country  of  his  love;  and 
from  the  befirinning  he  showed  clearlv  that  he  had  all 
the  moral,  religious,  and  educational  interests  of  the 
country  deeply  at  heart. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  Mr.  Lee  had  been 
elected  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and,  as  he 
was  about  to  visit  the  Atlantic  States  for  the  purpose 
of  promoting  both  the  civil  and  religious  interests 
of  Oregon,  he  proposed  to  accept  an  agency  from 
the  Board  if  it  should  be  their  pleasure  to  confer  it 
upon  him.  Accordingly  it  was  resolved  that  tiie 
Rev.  Jason  Lee  be  requested  and  authorized  to  act 
as  agent  in  the  United  States  to  solicit  funds  and 
donations  for  a  library,  philosophical  appaiatus,  etc., 


i'  Ml 


I  III 


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MM 


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I    ). 


166 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


for  tlie  Oregon  Institute.  Mr.  Lee  had  bin'ied  two 
wives  and  an  infant  son  beneath  the  evergreens  of 
Oregon,  and  his  affections  now,  in  all  thoir  strength, 
twined  around  a  little  daughter  of  two  years  old, 
whom  he  had  committed  to  the  care  of  a  friend,  and 
who  constituted  the  only  family  tie  that  bound  him 
to  earth ;  yet  he  considered  the  objects  to  be  accom- 
plished in  Oregon's  advancement  and  elevation  to 
be  of  such  paramount  importance  that  he  could, 
nnder  the  conviction  that  duty  called  him,  tear  him- 
self away  from  all  he  held  dear  on  earth  to  secure 
this  one  desire  of  his  heart.  On  taking  leave  of  this 
western  world  he  indulged  the  pleasing  hope,  that 
after  accomplishing  his  mission  in  the  East  he  would 
be  permitted  to  return  to  the  land  he  loved  better 
than  life,  and  employ  his  waning  energies  in  the 
cause  of  humanity  on  the  Pacific  shores,  and  finally 
to  lay  his  bones  by  the  side  of  those  of  his  two  com- 
panions who  had  fallen  as  martyrs  in  the  work  to 
which  they  had  consecrated  their  all.  But  an  in- 
scrutable Providence  ordered  it  otherwise.  In  April, 
1845,  he  fell  in  the  midst  of  his  friends,  and  they  dug 
his  grave  near  the  shores  of  Lake  Memphremagog, 
in  the  province  of  Lower  Canada.  A  marble  slab, 
bearing  a  suitable  record  of  his  life  and  labors,  marks 
the  spot  where  his  dust  reposes ;  but  while  vitality 
remained  his  heart  dwelt  in  the  regions  of  the  setting 
sun.  Possessing  but  little  of  this  world's  goods,  he 
donated  to  the  Oregon  Institute  six  hundred  dollars, 
one  hundred  of  it  just  before  he  breathed  his  last. 
In  the  month  of  May,  1844,  energetic  measures 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


167 


■were  taken  to  advance  tlie  interests  of  the  Board  by 
tlie  survey,  appraisal,  and  sale  of  lots ;  and  by  fur- 
warding  the  institute  building,  so  that  early  in  the 
season  a  school  might  be  put  into  successful  opera- 
tion. But  an  event  was  about  to  transpire  which  was 
destined  to  change  the  whole  aspect  of  things  in  rela- 
tion to  the  locality  of  our  school,  and  show  conclu- 
sively that  the  interests  we  sought  to  promote  were 
under  the  immediate  supervision  of  the  wise  provi- 
dence of  God.  This  event  was  the  revolution  that 
was  effected  in  our  missionary  policy  in  Oregon. 
This  revolution  originated  in  the  action  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Board  in  New  York,  which,  for  reasons  which 
appeared  justifiable,  at  a  regular  meeting  held  July 
19,  1843,  recommended  to  the  bishop  having  charge 
of  foreign  missions  either  the  appointment  of  a  spe- 
cial agent  to  proceed  to  Oregon,  and  investigate  the 
financial  concerns  of  the  mission,  or  supersede  Mr. 
Lee  by  a  new  superintendent.  The  latter  course 
was  decided  upon  by  the  bishop,  and  in  September 
following  it  was  announced  that  the  Rev.  George 
Gary,  of  the  Black  Biver  Conference,  was  appointed 
to  the  superintendency  of  the  Oregon  mission.  The 
instructions  of  the  authorities  of  the  Church  to  the 
new  superintendent  were  few,  but  he  was  clothed 
with  discretionary  power,  and  had  the  destiny  of 
missionaries,  laymen,  property,  and  all,  put  into  his 
hands.  With  this  almost  unlimited  authority  Mr. 
Gary  arrived  in  Oregon  on  the  first  day  of  May, 
1844,  and  entered  at  once  upon  the  delicate  and 
responsible  duties  devolved  upon  him.     It  was  a 


1 


» ,  • 


158 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


Bomewhat  singular  coincidence  tliat  Mr.  Lee,  not 
knowing  tliat  he  had  been  superseded,  was  on  his 
way  to  New  York  at  the  same  time  that  Mr.  Gary 
was  a{)proacliing  the  Pacific  shoi'es.  They  never 
mw  each  otlier.  Mr.  Lee,  as  above  stated,  fell  in 
Canada,  and  Mr.  Gary  assumed  the  responsibilities 
of  superintendent  of  the  mission  in  Oregon,  which 
had  devolved  upon  Mr.  Lee  for  the  period  of  ten 
years.  , 

After  Mr.  Gary  had  given  himself  suflBcient  time 
to  survey  the  ground,  and  form  some  just  conception 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  work  committed  to  his  hands, 
on  the  7th  of  June  following  his  arrival  he  called  a 
meeting  of  all  the  missionaries,  ministers  and  lay- 
men, at  the  old  parsonage,  in  what  is  now  Salem, 
then  occupied,  by  Kev.  David  Leslie,  for  the  purpose 
of  consultation  concerning  the  various  departments 
of  our  missionary  work.  The  meeting  commenced 
at  an  early  hour  of  the  day,  and  such  was  the  im- 
portance of  the  interests  involved  that  the  investiga- 
tion continued  until  daylight  the  next  morning. 

The  principal  points  arrived  at,  however,  in  this 
instance,  was  a  decision  to  sell  the  mission  property 
at  Clatsop,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  liiver, 
consisting  of  a  farm,  buildings,  and  stock.  Mr.  Gary 
also  informed  the  laymen  connected  with  the  mission 
that  he  intended  to  dismiss  them,  and  proposed  to 
defray  their  expenses  home  if  they  wished  to  return, 
or  pay  them  an  equivalent  in  such  property  as  the 
mission  possessed  in  Oregon,  With  the  exception 
of  one,  Dr.  J.  L.  Babcock,  they  preferred  to  remain 


•ir^» 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


169 


in  tlio  country,  and  accordingly  misBion  property 
was  distributed  among  the  diii'erent  families  to  the 
am  )unt  to  each  family  of  from  eight  hundred  to  a 
thousand  dollars.  And  here  it  should  be  observed 
that  the  course  adopted  by  Mr.  Gary  in  disposing  of 
the  laymen  belonging  to  the  mission  was  as  satisfac- 
tory to  the  latter  as  it  was  just  and  honorable  in  the 
superintendent. 

It  will  have  been  already  discovered  that  one  of  the 
objects  of  the  missionary  enterprise  of  the  Methodist 
Epifc'jopal  Church  in  Oregon  was  the  establishment 
and  maintenance  of  a  Mission  Manual  Labor  School 
for  the  benefit  of  Indian  children.  This  school  had 
been  established  by  Mr.  Lee,  in  the  fall  of  1834,  on  the 
old  mission  premises,  ten  miles  below  Salem,  and,  un- 
der the  care  of  Cyrus  Shepherd  and  others  it  assumed 
an  interesting  and  promising  aspect.  In  1841  this 
Indian  school  had  increased  to  about  forty  children, 
and  these  were  crowded  into  a  small  log-house,  and  it 
became  evident  that  more  commodious  quarters  must 
be  provided  for  it.  It  was  also  ascertained,  by  an  ex- 
perience of  a  few  years,  that  the  original  locality  of 
the  mission  was  comparatively  an  unhealthy  one, 
and  it  was  determined  in  council  to  remove  the  head- 
quarters of  the  mission  to  Chemekete,  now  the  city 
of  Salem.  In  connection  with  this  removal  it  was 
determined  by  Mr.  Lee,  by  the  consent  and  advice 
of  the  Missionary  Board  in  New  York,  to  build  a  suit- 
able house  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Indian  Mis- 
sion School.  Accordingly,  in  1842  this  determination 
was  carried  into  effect  by  the  erection  of  the  old 


160 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


wood  house  still  standing  upon  the  institute  grounds, 
and  costing  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  when  erected  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  Indian  Mission  School  moved  into  this 
building  in  the  fall  of  1842,  and  Ibr  a  few  months  it 
seemed  to  be  flourishing ;  but  a  strange  fatality  nnally 
fell  upon  it.  A  fatal  disease  carried  away  many  of 
the  children,  others  ran  away,  and  some  were  stolen 
by  their  parents,  until  but  few  were  left,  and 
these  withering  under  the  influence  of  the  fatal 
scrofula;  bo  that,  on  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Gary  in 
1811:,  a  dark  cloud  rested  upon  the  prospects  of  our 
Mission  School.  On  the  26th  of  June  the  superin- 
tendent called  a  general  meeting  of  the  missionaries 
and  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
the  Mission  School-house,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  subject  of  the  school,  an(J  determine  whether  it 
should  be  continued  or  disbanded.  The  matter  was 
thoroughly  investigated  pro  and  con,  and  it  was 
finally  determined  to  bring  the  Indian  Mission  Manual 
Labor  School  to  a  close.  This  was  immediately  done, 
and  now  the  house  and  premises,  which  had  cost  the 
Missionary  Society  more  than  ten  thousand  dollars, 
were  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Gary,  to  be  disposed  of 
and  put  to  sc  me  other  use.  The  question,  Eow  can 
this  property  be  best  employed  to  promote  in  Oregon 
the  true  objects  contemplated  by  the  Church  in  this 
expenditure?  became  a  matter  of  grave  investigation, 
and  as  a  result,  Mr.  Gary  proposed  to  sell  the  Oregon 
Mission  School-house  and  lands  connected  with  it  to 
the  trustees  of  the  Orcc:ou  Institute  for  the  sum  of 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


161 


four  thousand  dollars.  It  was  exceedingly  desirable 
on  the  part  of  the  truste'es  of  the  Oregon  Institute  to 
secure  this  property,  as  the  location  was  far  more 
eligible,  and  the  lands,  embracing  a  mile  square,  were 
far  more  valuable  than  the  j)lace  on  Wallace's  Prairie. 
Besides  this,  the  house  itself,  which  was  new,  had 
cost  the  Missionary  Board  more  than  twice  the  amount 
for  which  Mr.  Gary  proposed  to  sell  to  the  trustees 
of  the  institute  the  entire  property. 

Fortunately  for  the  interests  of  the  Oregon  Insti- 
tute,  the  Board  was  presented  with  an  opportunity 
to  sell  the  property  on  Wallace's  Prairie,  which, 
through  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  was 
done  for  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  ;  and  by 
the  same  committee,  duly  authorized  by  the  Board, 
the  Oregon  Mission  School-house  and  lands  connected 
with  it  were  purchased  for  the  sum  of  four  thousand 
dollars,  and  became  the  property  of  the  Oregon 
Institute. 

It  should  be  distinctly  undei*stood  that  up  to  the 
time  of  this  purchase  the  name  Oregon  Institute  was 
known  only  in  connection  with  the  property  on  Wal- 
lace Prairie,  but  now  the  name  was  transferred  from 
the  old  locality  to  the  present  locality  within  the  city 
of  Salem,  and  the  Oregon  Mission  Manual  Labor  School 
became,  by  virtue  of  said  transfer,  the  Oregon  Insti- 
tute. It  may  here  be  properly  observed,  that  Mr. 
Oary  had  an  opportunity  to  sell  the  Mission  School 
property  to  the  Catholics  for  double  the  amount  of 
that  he  was  to  receive  for  it  from  the  trustees  of  the 
Institute,   but  in    that    case    it   would   have    been 


162 


OREGOX  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


converted  into  a  nunnery ;  and  every  evangelical 
Cliristian  will  say,  "  Rather  destroy  it  entirely  than 
desecrate  it  to  so  impious  a  purpose."  For  the  pro- 
motion of  the  interests  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and 
for  the  general  welfare  of  this  rising  country,  a  more 
judicious  appropriation  of  the  property  could  not 
have  been  made  than  to  place  it  in  the  hands  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Oregon  Institute.  This,  by  a  most 
singular  train  of  providences,  was  finally  done,  the 
Oregon  Institute  receiving  the  property  for  less  than 
one  half  of  its  real  value,  the  other  half  being  in  eftect 
a  free  donation  to  the  Board  from  the  Missionary 
Society  through  its  agent,  the  Rev.  George  Gary. 

About  the  time  this  transfer  was  made,  or  a  few 
r^.onths  after,  twenty-three  years  ago,  the  author  of 
this  sketch  wrote  the  following  in  relation  to  this 
school ;  and  the  reader  cannot  fail,  in  contrasting  the 
present  with  that  period,  to  see  clearly  the  correct- 
ness of  the  views  then  and  there  expressed  : 

"  The  institution  stands  upon  an  elevated  portion  of 
a  beautiful  plain,  surrounded  with  the  most  delight- 
ful scenery,  and  at  a  point  which,  at  some  future  da;j , 
is  destined  to  be  one  of  great  importance.  The  build- 
ing is  beautifully  proportioned,  being  seventy-five  feet 
long  and  forty-eight  feet  wide,  including  the  wings, 
and  three  stories  high.  When  finished  it  will  not 
only  present  a  fine  appearance  without,  but  will  be 
commodious,  and  well  adapted  to  the  purposes  in- 
tended to  be  accomplished  within.  It  is  already  so 
far  advanced  that  a  school  is  now  in  successful  opera- 
tion, under  the  tuition  of  one  well  qualified  to  sustain 


-f  • 

i; 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


163 


its  interests.  Already  it  numbers  more  students  tlian 
did  either  the  Cazenovia  Seminary  or  the  Wilbraham 
Academy  at  their  commencement,  and  who  can  tell 
but  that  it  may  equal,  if  not  exceed,  both  those  insti- 
tutions in  importance  as  well  as  usefulness.  Though 
I  cannot  say  that  it  is  the  only  hope  of  Oregon,  for 
whether  it  lives  or  dies  Oregon  will  yet  be  redeemed 
from  the  remains  of  Paganism  and  the  gloom  of  papal 
darkness  by  which  she  is  enshrouded ;  but  the  senti- 
ment forces  itself  upon  the  mind,  that  the  subject  of 
the  Oregon  Institute  is  vital  to  the  interests  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  on  :lie  Pacific  coast.  If 
it  lives,  it  will  be  a  luminary  in  the  moral  heavens  of 
Oregon,  shedding  abroad  the  light  of  knowledge  long 
after  its  founders  shall  have  ceased  to  live.  But  if  it 
dies,  our  sun  is  set,  and  it  is  impossible  to  tell  what 
will  succeed.  Perhaps  a  long  and  cheerless  night  of 
papal  darkness ;  but.  more  probably,  others,  more 
worthy  of  the  honor  than  ourselves,  will  come  forth 
to  mold  the  moral  mass  according  to  their  own  liking, 
and  give  direction  to  the  literature  and  religion  of 
Oregon." 

As  the  house  whicii  had  thus  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  trustees  of  the  Orecron  Institute  had  but  re- 
cently  been  occuj)ied  by  the  Indian  school,  it  was  in 
such  a  state  of  forwardness  as  to  render  it  practicable 
to  open  a  school  fur  white  children  without  delay, 
and  consequently  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
Board  to  employ  a  teacher,  and  put  the  school  into 
immediate  operation.  Mrs.  C.  A,  Wilson  was  the 
person    upon   whom    devolved    the  honor,  by   the 


V  I 


161 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


employment  of  this  committee,  to  open,  as  a  teaclicr, 
tlie  Orecron  Institute.  Mrs.  Wilson  commenced  her 
school  early  in  the  fall  of  1844,  under  very  favorable 
auspices,  having  more  students  than  some  of  the 
academies  in  the  Eastern  States  had  at  their  com- 
mencement, which  subsequently  became  very  flour- 
ishing institutions.  The  committee  to  whom  was 
delegated  tlie  power  to  commence  and  conduct  the 
school  during  the  winter,  were  David  Leslie,  Alanson 
Beers,  L.  H.  Judson,  and  John  Force ;  and,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Board  held  the  7th  of  April,  1845,  a 
resolution  was  passed  approving  the  action  of  the 
committee,  and  assuming  the  responsibilities  of  the 
school,  with  all  its  contracts  and  liabilities.  The 
school  at  this  time  was  conducted  on  the  principle 
of  a  boarding  school,  most  of  the  pupils  coming  from 
a  distance  and  living  in  the  institution,  and  under 
the  supei  vision  of  W.  AV.  Baymond,  whom  the  Board 
had  employed  as  steward  of  the  concern.  At  this 
time  also  there  were  enacted  thirteen  rules  for  the 
general  management  of  the  establishment. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  May  25, 
1845,  D.  Leslie  was  re-elected  president,  W.  II. 
Wilson  was  elected  secretary,  and  A.  Beers  treas- 
urer. As  the  house  was  still  unfinislicd  measures 
were  taken  to  advance  it  toward  completion,  and 
provide  for  a  school  during  the  following  winter, 
and  al-jo  for  the  survey  and  sale  of  lots.  Previously 
to  this,  the  Board  had  conceived  the  plan  of  laying 
out  a  city  embracing  most  of  the  land  claim  which 
it  held  by  virtue  of  its  purchase  from  the  Missionary 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


165 


Society  tliroiigli  its  agent,  and  this  survey  was  in 
accordance  with  the  plan  and  under  the  direction 
and  at  the  expense  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

In  the  fall  of  1845  there  came  into  the  valley  a 
large  emigration  from  the  Eastern  States,  and  though 
the  country  was  generally  open  for  settlement,  yet 
the  Oregon  Institute  being  now  in  successful  prog- 
ress, and  the  business  operations  in  the  vicinity 
aifording  facilities  for  livelihood,  the  lands  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  the  institute  soon  were  all  occu- 
pied, and  jumping  claims  became,  to  some  extent, 
the  order  of  the  day.  The  recent  purchase  was  con- 
sidered by  many  as  very  desirable,  and  was  looked 
upon  with  longing  eyes;  and  the  validity  of  the 
claim  of  the  institute  began  to  be  questioned  both  by 
the  old  residents  and  the  new-comers,  and  a  strong 
disposition  was  manifested  to  jump  the  claim.  The 
country  at  this  time  was  very  deficient  in  regard  to 
law,  as  the  provisional  government  had  not  provided 
for  the  incorporation  of  such  bodies  as  the  Board  of 
the  Oregon  Institute.  Indeed,  this  body,  at  this 
time,  had  no  existence  in  law,  and  advantage  was 
taken  of  this  fact  in  attempts  to  wrest  the  land  from 
the  possession  of  the  Board,  which  if  successful 
would  have  rulnod  the  institution.  With  this  state 
of  things  it  required  all  the  wisdom  and  vigilance 
of  the  friends  of  the  school  to  retain  possession  of 
this  land,  so  that  it  would  not  be  lost  to  the  insti- 
tution. Fortunately  for  the  interests  of  education  in 
Oregon,  the  provisional  government  had  enacted  a 

law  providing  for  the  holding  of  land  by  a  partner- 

11 


166 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


ship  of  two  or  more  persons,  and  the  friends  of  the 
institution  took  advantage  of  tliis  law  to  secure  the 
land.  It  so  happened  that  the  claims  of  W.  II. 
Wilson  on  the  north,  H.  B.  Brewer  on  the  east.  Rev. 
D.  Leslie  on  the  south,  and  Rev.  L.  II.  Judson  on 
the  west,  all  staunch  friends  of  the  institution,  en- 
compassed the  institute  claim  on  all  sides,  and 
arrangements  were  made  with  these  gentlemen  by 
the  Board  to  extend  their  personal  claims,  so  as  to 
cover  the  entire  claim  of  the  institute,  and  have  the 
same  recorded  as  a  claim  held  by  them  in  partner- 
ship, according  to  the  requirements  of  the  provisional 
law.  These  gentlemen  entered  into  heavy  bonds 
with  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  hold  the  premises  as  a 
partnership  claim,  until  such  times  as  the  Board 
should  become  an  incorporate  body,  and  be  competent 
to  receive  back  and  hold  the  property  according  to 
law. 

In  March,  1846,  it  was  arranged  by  the  Board,  in 
connection  with  the  partnership,  that  W.  H.  Wilson, 
one  of  the  partners,  should,  as  agent  of  the  concern, 
take  personal  charge  of  the  premises  for  safe  keeping. 
On  the  twenty-sixth  of  May,  Mr.  Wilson,  by  a 
unanimous  vote  of  the  Board,  was  confirmed  in  the 
agency,  and  empowered  to  transact  the  business  of 
the  Oregon  Institute,  and  he  was  authorized  to  sell 
lots  and  receive  pay  for  the  same,  and  as  a  compen- 
sation for  such  service  he  was  to  receive  seven  per 
centum  on  all  the  sales  effected.  It  should  be  dis- 
tinctly understood  that  at  this  time  the  institute 
land  which  was  held  by  tlie  partnership  arrangement 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


167 


embraced  tlio  whole  of  tlie  present  site  of  the  city  of 
Salem.  The  city  is  indebted  entirely  to  the  Board 
for  the  magnificent  plan  upon  which  the  plat  was 
surveyed,  a  plan  that  will  ultimately  make  Salem  of 
Oregon  one  of  the  most  beautiful  cities  upon  the 
continent  of  America.  The  liberality  of  the  Board 
appeared  not  only  in  respect  to  the  town  survey,  but 
also  in  the  encouragement  given  to  mechanics  and 
others  to  settle  and  improve  within  the  city  limits. 
Instruction  was  given  to  the  agent,  W.  H.  "Wilson,  to 
make  a  donation  to  worthy  individuals  of  one  lot  to 
each,  to  the  number  of  twenty  lots,  according  to  his 
discretion.  This  was  designed  both  to  encourage 
individuals,  and  to  give  a  start  to  the  embryo 
town. 

For  some  time  after  the  middle  of  1846  various 
matters  of  buoiness  more  or  less  affecting  the  interests 
of  the  institute  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Board, 
the  particulars  of  which 'it  will  not  be  necessary  to 
incorporate  into  this  history.  It  will  be  sufficient 
simply  to  allude  to  them,  such  as  providing  for  the 
finishing  of  the  outside  of  the  institute  buildmg,  the 
erection  of  out-houses,  the  inclosing  of  yards,  the 
donation  of  lands  for  church  and  yard  purposes,  the 
selection  of  a  cemetery,  and  the  adjustment  of  certain 
matters  relating  to  the  sale  of  lands  to  D.  Leslie,  J. 
L.  Parrish,  and  C.  Craft.  The  business  pertaining 
to  these  last  mentioned  sales  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  completed  until  June,  1847.  The  price  for 
which  the  lands  mentioned  were  sold  was  fixed  at 
twelve  dollars  per  acre.     At  the  same  time  a  resolu- 


;  11 


:i 


'Hii*^ 


i     if    !'J 


168 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


tion  was  passed  by  the  Board  empowering  D.  Leslie, 
L.  II.  Judson,  and  "W.  II.  Wilson  to  dispose  of  the 
water-power  or  mill-seat  belonging  to  the  institute 
premises,  and  as  mnch  land  with  it  as  they  might 
think  proper.  It  was  also  resolved  that  the  agent, 
W.  II.  Wilson,  be  instructed  to  commence  the  sale 
of  lots  by  public  auction,  after  giving  at  least  ten 
days'  notice  through  the  columns  of  the  "  Oregon 
Spectator."  The  committee  authorized  to  sell  the 
water  privilege  was  also  instructed  to  sell  to  appli- 
cants any  portion  of  the  land  embraced  in  the  town 
survey,  previous  to  the  public  sale  by  the  agent,  at 
such  prices,  not  less  than  the  minimum  price  fixed 
by  the  Board,  as  in  their  judgment  they  might  think 
proper.  These  measures  were,  as  far  as  practicable, 
carried  out  by  the  Board  through  the  committees 
appointed,  and  in  the  mean  time  the  school  was  kept 
for  the  most  part  in  successful  operation. 

The  civil  changes  that  occurred  in  respect  to 
Oregon,  as  regarded  the  land  interests  of  the  country, 
produced  a  marked  efiect  in  their  final  results  upon 
the  institution  whose  history  we  are  endeavoring  to 
trace.  When  the  Board  of  the  Oregon  Institute  was 
first  organized  in  1842,  it  was  not  only  self-consti- 
tuted, but  entirely  an  irresponsible  body,  based  upon 
no  law,  as,  indeed,  the  country  then  was  wholly 
without  law,  every  man  being  left  to  do  that  which 
was  pleasing  in  his  own  sight.  The  original  members 
of  the  Board,  however,  were  men  who  considered  that 
a  "  higher  law  "  than  any  mere  civil  enactment  had 
its  claims  upon  them,  and  to  that  law,  in  all  their 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


169 


operations  aifecting  the  interests  of  tlie  Oregon  Insti- 
tute, they  held  themselves  strictly  accountable.  To 
hold  the  property  and  secure  it  to  the  interests  of 
the  school  through  all  the  changes  that  took  place 
from  a  state  of  no  law  up  to  the  establishment  of 
legitimate  government  among  us,  required,  as  has 
been  seen,  integrity  of  purpose,  added  to  perseverance, 
foresight,  and  great  watchfulness.  These  qualities 
having  been  brought  into  constant  requisition  for  its 
advancement  and  security,  the  Oregon  Institute  is 
found  at  tlie  close  of  the  fifth  year  of  its  existence  to 
occupy  a  very  promising  position,  and  bidding  fair  to 
become  the  leading  literary  institution  on  the  Pacific 
coast. 

In  1848  the  Oregon  Donation  Land  Law,  througli 
the  agency  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  Thurston,  delegate 
to  Congress  from  the  territory  of  Oregon,  passed  both 
houses  of  Congress,  and  opened  the  way  for  the  rapid 
settlement  of  the  "Willamette  Yalley.  This  act,  im- 
portant as  it  was  to  the  general  interests  of  the 
country,  not  only  became  the  occasion  of  serious  and 
protracted  trouble  and  difiiculty  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  but  in  its  final  results  became  the  cause  of 
inflicting  a  very  serious  injury  upon  the  financial  in- 
terests of  the  institution. 

At  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  Donation  Law 
W.  II.  Wilson,  with  his  family,  lived  upon  the  claim, 
and  in  the  institute  building,  and,  as  has  been  stated, 
were  in  the  employment  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  he 
as  agent,  while  Mrs.  Wilson  was  conducting  the 
school  as  teacher.    Mr.  Wilson  was  also  a  member 


U 


•  I 


170 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Il 


M 


of  tlie  Board  of  Trustees,  and  had  acted  doubtlessly 
in  all  good  faith  with  the  other  inenibcrs  of  the  Board 
in  all  tlie  struggles  of  the  past  to  sustain  the  institu- 
tion, and,  as  they  were  in  the  occupancy  of  the  land 
when  the  Donation  Law  was  passed,  it  was  natural 
for  the  Board  to  look  to  them  as  the  proper  persons 
through  whom  to  secure  the  premises  by  a  fulfillment 
of  the  provisions  of  that  law ;  but  as  the  pi-imary 
object  of  this  history  is  not  so  much  to  make  an  ex- 
position of  all  the  particulars  which  have  entered 
into  it,  and  the  errors  and  mistakes  of  those  who 
have  been  connected  with  the  enterprise,  as  to  pro- 
mote its  present  and  future  interests,  we  deem  it  not 
important  to  trace  in  all  its  minutiae  the  tedious  and 
unpleasant  controversy  in  regard  to  this  land  claim 
between  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  institution  on 
the  one  hand,  and  Dr.  "Wilson  and  his  wife  on  the 
other. 

There  were  indeed  two  sides  to  the  question ;  but 
the  interests  involved,  so  far  as  the  institution  was 
concerned,  were  of  such  a  nature  as  for  many  months 
to  constitute  subjects  of  grave,  earnest,  and  ex- 
tended investigation  in  the  meetings  of  the  Board. 
But  the  character  of  these  investigations,  and  the 
opinions  entertained  and  expressed  by  the  different 
parties,  are  not  so  important  matters  of  history  as  the 
manner  in  which,  finally,  the  whole  controversy  was 
settled.  We  shall  therefore  dismiss  the  whole  sub- 
ject after  stating  a  few  facts  in  relation  to  this  point. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  November  1, 
1854,  a  committee  was  appointed  consisting  of  A.  F. 


t^f. 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


171 


"Waller,  G.  Ilincs,  and  J.  L.  Parrisli,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  subject  of  dift'erence  between  Will- 
iam H.  Wilson  and  the  trustees  of  the  Oregon  Insti- 
tute, and  all  the  interests  of  the  university  growing 
out  of  the  land  claim,  and  report  at  a  subsequent  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  a  plan  for  the  full  adjustment  of  all 
the  interests  involved  in  the  premises.  This  com- 
mittee at  once  attended  to  the  work  as~igned  them, 
and  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  Wilson,  and  as  a 
result,  the  latter,  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board, 
made  the  following  proposition : 

"Feeling  as  I  do  a  very  deep  and  anxious  solici- 
tude for  the  "welfare  of  the  institution  of  learning  in 
our  midst,  and  feeling  most  seriously  the  embarrass- 
ments under  which  it  labors  in  consequence  of  ques- 
tions in  which  I  am  involved,  I  propose  to  submit 
the  following  as  the  basis  of  a  final  setth  meYit :  You 
perceived  by  the  exhibit  of  yesterday,  admitting  its 
correctness,  that  I  had  received  from  the  sales  upon 
my  part  of  the  claim  but  three  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  five  dollars,  and  had  paid  out  over  five 
thousand.  I  propose  first  to  relinquish  to  you  that 
excess.  I  propose  to  secure  to  you,  or  the  trustees  of 
the  Willamette  University,  the  sixty  acres  called  for 
in  the  bond  you  hold,  or  if  it  has  been  encroached 
upon,  to  make  it  good,  to  be  held  in  trust  as  per 
bond.  I  propose  in  the  next  place  to  divide  the  un- 
sold remains  of  that  portion  of  the  claim  lying  on  the 
south  side  of  the  street,  which  runs  east  from  the 
river  in  front  of  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  so  as 
to  secure  to  vou.  or  the  trustees  of  the  Willamette 


'  1 


172 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


University,  two  thirds  in  value  of  such  unsold  re- 
mains, to  be  held  or  disposed  of  by  the  said  trustees 
at  their  discretion,  for  the  endowment  of  said  univer- 
sity. If  tlio  above  propositions  are  acceded  to,  then, 
and  in  that  case,  mutual  releases  shall  be  ])as8ed, 
showing  a  final  settlement  of  all  the  interests  growing 
out  of  the  land  claim. 
"  Signed, 


William  II.  "Wilson." 


As  matters  stood  the  Board  had  no  alternative; 
and,  acting  upon  the  principle  that  a  half  loaf  is  better 
than  no  bread,  acceded  to  this  proposition  as  the  best 
that  probably  could  be  done  under  the  circumstances, 
and  a  committee  consisting  of  "W.  II.  Wilson,  A.  F. 
Waller,  and  G.  Ilines,  was  appointed,  whose  duty  it 
was  to  proceed  and  view  the  premises,  and  divide  the 
land,  and  designate  by  metes  and  bounds  that  which 
was  awarded  to  the  institution,  and  that  which  was 
awarded  to  said  W.  II.  Wilson.  This  committee  im- 
mediately performed  the  task  imposed  upon  them, 
and  the  apportionment  thus  made  was  accepted  by 
the  parties  as  a  final  settlement  of  the  interests  in- 
volved in  the  land  claim  of  the  Oregon  Institute  and 
Willamette  University.  The  Board  then  ordered 
the  president  and  secretary  to  receive  from  Mr.  Wil- 
son all  conveyances  and  instruments  necessary  and 
proper  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  propositions  of 
Mr.  Wilson,  and  to  execute  to  him  all  receipts  and 
acquittances  necessary  to  the  adjustment  and  cancel- 
lation of  all  claims  of  said  Board  asrainst  him.     This 

CD 

instruction  was  subsequently  carried  into   effect  by 


\' 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


173 


the  constituted  authorities,  and  the  legal  questions 
involved  in  the  matter  were  in  this  manner  forever 
put  to  rest. 

We  are  not  in  these  representations  disposed  to  be 
rigid,  nor  at  all  uncharitable.  We  woidd  accord  to 
all  parties  good  intentions  in  all  that  they  have  done 
touching  this  matter.  In  the  statements  that  have 
been  made  we  have  not  designed  to  call  in  question 
the  motives  of  any.  We  have  simply  dealt  in  facts 
as  far  as  we  have  gone,  and  upon  this  subject,  as  upon 
all  others,  we  would  say,  let  the  public  first  under- 
stand, and  then  judge.  And  here  it  will  be  proper 
to  observe  that  during  the  whole  history  of  the  insti- 
tution up  to  this  period  no  persons  in  the  country 
showed  a  more  lively  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
school,  and  none  were  more  liberal  in  the  use  of  time 
and  money  in  its  support,  than  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilson.  Dr.  Wilson  himself  was  one  of  the  early 
secretaries  of  the  Board,  and  officiated  in  that  capac- 
ity for  some  years.  He  was  also  for  years  the  effi- 
cient agent  of  the  Board,  and  contributed  much  by 
his  counsel  as  well  as  means  to  carry  forward  the  en- 
terprise toward  ultimate  success.  Tie  came  to  Oregon 
as  a  layman  in  connection  with  the  first  reinforcement 
to  the  mission  in  1837.  An  active  member  of  the 
Church,  an  efficient  leader  and  steward,  he  was  also 
licensed  to  preach  as  a  local  preacher  in  Oregon,  and 
officiated  in  that  capacity  for  a  number  of  years.  In 
1840  he  was  married  to  Chloe  A.  Clark,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  large  reinforcement  of  that  year. 
Dr.  Wilson  was  one  of  the  earliest  permanent  set- 


1^' 
m 


m^ 


174 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


tiers  on  the  Pacific  coast,  Lud  from  tlie  beginning 
took  a  deep  interest  in  every  enterprise  ibr  the  pro- 
motion of  the  moral,  intellectual,  and  physical  devel- 
opment of  the  country.  True  to  the  interests  of  the 
Church,  and  faithful  in  the  observance  of  all  religious 
duties,  from  his  geniality  and  kindness,  and  the  vein 
of  good  feeling  that  always  sieeraed  to  be  running 
through  his  entire  nature,  he  was  remarkably  popular 
in  all  the  associations  of  life.  He  died  very  suddenly 
in  the  city  of  Salem  by  an  apoplectic  stroke,  leaving 
a  widow  and  three  children  to  mourn  hie  unexpected 
and  premature  departure. 


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OREGON  AN]"*  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


175 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  WILLAMETTE   UNIVERSITY. 

It  lias  been  already  observed  that  the  original  design 
of  the  founders  of  the  Oregon  Institute  was  to  place 
it  under  the  control  of  some  organized  religious  body 
that  would  enter  into  a  pledge  to  patronize  and  sus- 
tain it.  This  pledge  was  given,^  so  far  as  it  was  pos- 
sible, in  1842.  True,  there  was  not  an  organized 
conference  at  that  time  in  the  country,  yet  there 
was  a  Methodist  society  which  had  been  organized 
by  Rev.  Jason  Lee  and  his  associates  according  to 
the  constitution  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
This  society  or  branch  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Oregon,  thus  organized,  formally  received 
the  institution  under  the  pledge  required,  and  in  this 
form,  as  a  simple  society,  had  the  entire  management 
and  control  of  the  school  up  to  September,  1819. 
In  the  mean  time  the  provisional  government  had 
given  place  to  the  territorial  form  of  government, 
and  the  Methodist  society  established  in  the  country 
had  grown  into  the  Oregon  and  Califoi'nia  Mission 
Conference,  which  had  been  organized  under  the 
direction  and  by  the  authority  of  the  General  Con- 
ference of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  During 
the  first  session  of  the  Mission  Conference  thus  or- 
ganized, which  was  hold  in  the  chapel  of  tlie  Institute 


170 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


building,  measures  were  taken  to  adopt  the  institu- 
tion as  a  conference,  and  provide  for  tlie  security  of 
the  property  belonging  to  it.  It  was  also  resolved 
to  make  application  to  the  legislature  of  Oregon 
Territory  for  a  suitable  charter  for  the  government 
of  the  institution. 

Eev.  "Wm.  Eoberts,  who  was  the  superintendent 
of  the  mission  at  that  time,  and  the  preacher  in 
charge  of  Oregon  City,  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  carry  out  these  measures.  Whatever  this  com- 
mittee may  have  done  in  the  premises  does  not  ap- 
pear upon  the  records,  but  it  is  evident  that  they  did 
not  succeed  in  obtaining  a  charter,  for  we  find  that 
during  the  third  session  of  the  Oregon  and  California 
Mission  Conference,  held  in  the  Institute  building, 
September  3,  1851,  that  a  committee  of  five  was  ap- 
pointed, consisting  of  J.  H.  Wilber,  C.  S.  Kingsley, 
N.  Doane,  F.  S.  Hoyt,  and  Wm.  Roberts,  to  procure 
from  the  next  legislature  of  the  Oregon  Territory 
the  incorporation  of  the  Oregon  Institute  and  Uni- 
versity; and  to  take  measures,  in  connection  with 
the  executive  committee,  to  secure  their  speedy 
endowment. 

At  the  same  conference  the  following  persons  were 
elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the 
Oregon  Institute  and  University :  David  Leslie, 
Wm.  Roberts,  A.  F.  Waller,  W.II.  Wilson,  J.  L. 
Parrish,  J.  H.  Wilber,  J.  Q.  Thornton,  Thomas  Nel- 
son, George  Abernethy,  C.  S.  Kingsley,  J.  Flinn,  J. 
Stewart,  F.  S.  Hoyt,  and  Amory  Holbrook. 

There  was  also  a  Board  of  Visitors  elected,  which 


■mmnnp 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


177 


bIiows  that  tlio  institution  had  fully  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  conference. 

The  committee  of  five,  appointed  by  the  Board  to 
procure  a  charter  of  incorporation  from  the  Legis- 
lative Assembly  of  1853,  made  application  to  that 
body  for  that  purpose,  and  as  a  result  reported  to 
the  Board  of  the  Oregon  Institute 

AN  ACT  TO  ESTABLISH  THE  WILLAMETTE  UNIVERSITY. 

Whereas  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  every 
community,  under  the  direction  and  government  of 
Divine  Providence,  depend  in  an  eminent  degree  on 
the  right  education  of  the  youth  who  must  succeed 
the  aged  in  the  important  offices  of  society,  and  the 
principles  of  virtue  and  elements  of  liberal  knowl- 
edge fostered  and  imparted  in  the  higher  institutions 
of  learning  tend  to  develop  a  people  in  those  quali- 
fications most  essential  to  their  present  welfare  and 
future  advancement ;  and  whereas  it  appears  that 
the  establishment  of  a  university  in  the  town  of 
Salem,  in  the  county  of  Marion,  with  a  suitable  pre- 
paratory department  for  the  instruction  of  youth  in 
the  arts  and  sciences,  is  likely  to  subserve  the  intel- 
lectual development  and  enlightening  of  the  youth 
of  this  territory ;  therefore. 


Section  I. 

Be  it  enacted  hy  the  Legislatim  Assembly  of  the 
Territory  of  Oregon^  That  there  shall  be  established 
in  the  town  of  Salem,  in  the  couuty  of  Marion,  a 


ITS 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


university,  to  be  called  the  Willamette  University, 
and  tliat  David  Leslie,  Wm.  Eoberts,  George  Aber- 
netliy,  W.  11.  Wilson,  Alanson  Beers,  Thomas  II. 
Pearne,  Francis  S.  Hoyt,  James  II.  Wilber,  Calvin 
S.  Kingsley,  John  Flinn,  E.  M.  Barnum,  L.  F. 
Grover,  B.  F.  Harding,  Samuel  Burch,  Francis 
Fletcher,  Jeremiah  Ralston,  J.  D.  Boon,  Joseph 
Holman,  James  R.  Robb,  Cyrus  Olney,  Asahel  Bush, 
and  Samuel  Parker,  and  their  associates  and  suc- 
cessors, are  hereby  declared  to  be  a  body  corporate 
and  politic  in  law,  by  the  name  and  style  of  the 
"  Trustees  of  the  Willamette  University." 

Section  II. 
And  he  it  further  enacted,  That  said  corporation 
shall  have  perpetual  succession,  and  shall  have  power 
to  acquire,  receive,  and  possebL,  by  donation,  gift,  or  pur- 
chase, and  to  retain  and  enjoy  property,  real,  personal, 
and  mixed,  and  the  same  to  sell,  grant,  convey,  rent, 
or  otherwise  dispose  of  at  pleasure ;  Provided,  that 
no  part  of  the  resources  thereof  shall  -ever  be  used 
for  any  other  than  educational  purposes,  as  herein 
contemplated:  and  provided  further,  That  the  year- 
ly income  of  which,  accruing  to  said  institution,  shall 
not  exceed  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  They  shall 
have  power  to  contract  and  be  contracted  with,  to 
sue  and  be  sued,  to  plead  and  be  impleaded  in  all 
courts  of  justice,  both  at  law,  and  in  equity.  They 
shall  cause  to  be  made  for  their  use  a  common  seal, 
impressed  with  such  devices  and  inscriptions  as  they 
ehall   deem  proper,  by  v/hicli  said  seal  all  deeds, 


® 


® 


i" 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


179 


diplomas,  and  acts  of  said  corporation  sliall  pass  and 
be  authenticated,  and  tliey  shall  have  power  to  alter 
or  amend  the  same  at  their  pleasure.  They  shall 
have  power  to  form  and  adopt  a  constitution  and  by- 
laws for  their  government,  to  make  and  to  carry  into 
efi'ect  all  necessary  regulations  for  the  management 
of  their  fiscal  concerns,  to  appoint  subordinate  ofiicers 
and  agents,  to  make,  ordain,  and  establish  such  ordi- 
nances, rules,  and  regulations  as  they  may  deem 
necessary  or  expedient  for  the  good  government  of 
said  institution,  its  officers,  teachers,  and  pupils; 
Provided,  that  such  ordinances,  rules,  and  regula- 
tions shall  in  no  manner  contravene  the  constitution 
and  laws  of  the  United  States  nor  the  laws  of  this 
Territory. 


■i\^\ 


hall 
shall 
to 
all 
They 
seal, 
they 
leeds, 


Section  III. 

And  he  it  further  enacted,  That  said  trustees  shall 
meet  at  least  once  every  year,  and  shall  manage  the 
concerns  of  said  institution  as  they  shall  judge  most 
advantageous  to  the  cause  of  education ;  that  seven 
of  their  number  shall  form  a  quorum,  at  an}'^  regular 
meeting,  for  the  transaction  of  business.  The  said 
trustees  shall  elect  one  of  their  number  to  be  presi- 
dent of  their  Board ;  and  when  it  may  be  deemed 
advisable  to  add  to  the  number  of  said  trustees,  or 
become  necessary  to  fill  vacancies,  which  may  occur 
by  death,  resignation,  or  otherwise,  the  Annual  Con- 
ference of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Oregon, 
within  whose  bounds  said  institution  is  located,  shall 
elect  such  additional  trustees,  and  fill  such  occurring 


m  :  ■'' 


180 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


.1     ) 


mm 


vacancies.  The  first  meeting  of  said  Board  of  Trus- 
tees after  the  passage  of  this  act,  shall  be  called  by 
David  Leslie,  and  held  at  the  Oregon  Institute.  They 
shall  divide  themselves  into  three  classes ;  the  term 
of  office  of  the  first  class  shall  expire  in  one  year,  the 
second  in  two  years,  and  the  third  in  three  years; 
and  thereafter,  each  class  shall  hold  its  term  of  office 
for  three  years. 

Section  IV. 

And  he  it  further  enacted^  That  all  deeds  and 
other  instruments  of  conveyance  shall  be  made  by 
the  order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  sealed  with  the 
seal  of  the  corporation,  signed  by  the  president,  and 
by  him  acknowledged  in  his  official  capacity,  in  order 
to  insure  their  validity. 

Section  V. 

And  he  it  further  enacted^  That  the  Annual  Con- 
ferences of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Ore- 
gon may  appoint  seven  visitors,  to  visit  and  examine 
into  the  afiairs  of  said  institution,  and  each  year  to 
meet  and  confer  with  the  Board  of  Trustees  at  some 
convenient  time  during  its  annual  meeting ;  and  the 
governor  of  this  territory,  judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  president  of  the  Council,  and  speaker  of 
the  House  of  Kepresentatives  of  the  Legislative 
Assembly,  next  preceding  each  annual  meeting  of 
said  Board,  shall  be  ex-officio  visitors,  having  equal 
rights  and  privileges  with  the  herein  beforementioned 
visitors. 


^^pr 


OEEGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


181 


Section  VI. 
And  he  it  further  enacted,  That,  in  order  to  con- 
k.titute  the  university,  established  by  this  act,  a  gen- 
eral and  efficient  seminary  of  learning,  there  shall  be 
included  within  it  a  preparatory  department,  known 
by  the  name  of  the  "  Oregon  Institute,"  which  shall 
be  open  to  persons  of  botli  sexes,  and  over  which 
said  Board  of  Trustees  shall  have  entire  supervisioa 
and  control ;  Provided,  that  they  shall  respect  all 
contracts  heretofore  made  and  now  existing  in  re- 
gard to  said  Institute ;  And  provided  further,  that 
said  Board  of  Trustees  shall  have  power  to  add  such 
other  departments  in  the  arts  and  sciences,  law, 
and  medicine,  and  theology,  as  in  their  judgment 
may  be  suitable  to  the  wants  and  condition  of  the 
country. 

Section  VII. 

And  he  it  further  enacted,  That  the  principal  or 

president,  and  professors  of  said  institution,  shall  be 

styled   the    "  Faculty   of  Willamette    University," 

who   shall  have   power,  watli  the   advice  of  and  in 

accordance  with  the  rule   adopted  by  the  Board  of 

Trustees  and  Visitors,  to  grant  and  confer  degrees 

in  the  liberal  arts  and  sciences  to  such  pupils  of  the 

institution    and   others   as  by   their  proficiency   in 

learning,  or  by  other  meritorious  consideration,  shall 

have  entitled  themselves  to  academic  honors ;    and 

the  said  faculty  and  board  shall  have   and  exercise 

generally  all  such  powers  and  privileges  of  conferring 

honorary  degrees,  and  other  marks  of  literary  and 

12 


182 


OREGON  AND  ITS    INSTITUTIONS. 


scientific  distinction,  as  are  exercised  by  other  similar 
institutions  in  the  United  States. 

Section  VIIL 

Tlie  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  shall  annu- 
ally, in  the  month  of  December,  make  a  report  to  the 
secretary  of  the  Territory  of  the  names  and  officers 
of  the  faculty,  the  names  of  the  teachers,  and  the 
brandies  taught  by  them,  the  number-  of  pupils 
taught  in  the  university  during  the  year,  the  num- 
ber in  the  several  classes  respectively,  and  the  names 
and  degree  of  the  graduates.  And  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  secretary  to  place  and  keep  on  file  in  his 
office  such  report,  which  shall  at  all  times  be  open 
for  the  inspection  of  any  person  or  persons  wishing 
to  examine  the  same. 

Section  IX. 

And  he  it  further  enacted,   That  the  legislature 

shall  have  power  at  any  subsequent   session,  when 

'  the  necessities  of  the  institution  or  considerations  of 

public  good  require  it,  to  alter  or  amend  this  act  at 

pleasure. 

Section  X. 

This  act  to  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and 
after  its  passage. 

Passed  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  January 
11,  1853.  Passed  by  the  Council,  January  1^,  1853. 
P.  F.  Harding,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives ;  M.  P.  Deady,  President  of  the  Council. 

By  this  act  of  incorporation  the  Oregon  Institute 
is  absorbed  in  the  Willamette  University.    True,  the 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


183 


name  is  retained  in  connection  with  the  academical 
department ;  but  the  distinguishing  designation  of  the 
institution  by  this  act,  which  originated  with  tlie 
Board  of  Trustees,  became  the  Willamette  University, 
endowed  with  all  the  rights  and  privileges  belonging 
to  universities  of  the  first  grade  in  the  United  States. 
But  eleven  years  had  passed  since  the  idea  of  such  an 
institution  originated  in  the  minds  of  a  few  voluntary 
exiles  in  a  then  heathen  land,  and  found  expression  in 
measures  taken  with  great  diffidence  and  trembling 
as  to  their  ultimate  success  ;  but  now  the  institution 
had  become  a  chartered  university,  according  to  the 
original  design  of  its  founders,  and  was  evidently 
marching  on  to  the  accomplishment  of  a  high  and 
noble  destiny. 

To  adapt  the  action  of  the  Board  to'  the  new  order 
of  things,  a  meeting  of  that  body  was  called  by  David 
Leslie,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  charter,  in 
the  chapel  of  the  Institute,  March  16,  1853. 

At  this  meeting,  as  the  third  section  of  the  act  of 
incorporation  required  a  division  of  the  Board  into 
three  classes,  the  Board  proceeded  to  make  such 
classification. 

First  class,  to  continue  one  year :  B.  F.  Harding, 
A.  F.  Waller,  Cyrus  Olney,  J.  Ilolman,  F.  S.  Hoyt, 
John  Flinn,  S.  Burch,  Asahel  Bush,  W.  Ilaux- 
liurst. 

Second  class,  two  years  :  L,  F.  Grover,  J.  Corson, 
J.  Ralston,  William  Roberts,  George  Abernethy,  W. 
H.  Wilson,  C.  S.  Kingsley,  D.  Leslie. 

Third    class,  three  years :   E.  M.  Barnum,  J.  R. 


11^ 
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1 1! 


nil 


184 


OKEGON  AlsD   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


Robb,    Samuel   Parker,   A.  Beers,    J.  Stewart,    F. 
Fietclier,  J.  D.  Boon,  T.  H.  Pearne,  J.  II.  Wilber. 

As  a  new  name  and  university  powers  liad  been 
conferred  upon  the  institution,  it  was  found,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  that  the  old  constitution  and  by- 
laws under  wdiich  the  school  had  been  conducted 
would  no  longer  answer  the  purpose ;  consequently, 
at  this  first  meeting  of  the  Board  under  the  charter 
a  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  A.  F. 
Waller,  W.  H.  Wilber,  T.  II.  Pearne,  C.  S.  Kingsley, 
and  F.  S.  Hoyt,  to  draft  a  constitution  and  code  of 
by-laws. 

The  Board  also  by  a  resolution  requested  Bishop 
Ames,  who  was  then  in  attendance,  to  appoint  at  the 
coming  session  of  the  Oregon  Annual  Conference 
a  member  of  said  conference  to  the  presidency  of  the 
Oregon  Institute,  the  old  name  being  still  used  in 
the  action  of  the  Board,  doubtless  more  by  habit  than 
otherwise.  The  design  of  this  request  was  carried 
out  at  the  ensuing  Annual  Conference  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Rev.  Francis  S.  Hoyt  as  president  of  the 
Willamette  University. 

The  first  ofiicers  of  the  Board  under  the  charter 
were  elected  March  19,  1853  :  David  Leslie,  Pres- 
ident, T.  II.  Pearne,  Secretary,  and  J.  L.  Parrish, 
Treasurer.  T.  H.  Pearne  resigned,  and  E.  M.  Bar- 
num  was  elected  in  his  place. 

The  committee  that  was  appointed  to  draft  a  con- 
stitution and  by-laws  made  their  report  at  a  subse- 
quent meeting,  but  the  constitution  reported  seemed 
to  require  further  investigation,  and  was  deferred 


«■    I 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


185 


until  Bome  future  time ;  but  the  by-laws  wbich  were 
presented  were  thoroughly  discussed,  and  adopted 
as  follows : 

BY-LAWS  OF  WILLAMETTE   UNIVERSITY. 

1.  The  University  shall  consist  of  two  departments, 
namely,  a  Collegiate  Department,  and  a  Preparatory 
or  Academic  Department 


COLLEGIATE  DEPARTMENT. 

2.  Until  the  wants  of  the  institution  require 
further  provision  for  a  board  of  instruction,  the  fol- 
lowing shall  be  the  faculty  of  the  Collegiate  Depart- 
ment : 

(1.)  A  president,  whose  title  shall  be  the  president 
of  the  Willamette  University,  who  shall  act  as  pro- 
fessor of  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy. 

(2.)  A  professor  of  Ancient  and  Modern  Lan- 
guages. 

(3.)  A  professor  of  Natural  and  Exact  Sciences. 

3.  The  president  shall,  in  addition  to  his  duties  as  a 
professor,  have  the  entire  supervision  and  direction  of 
the  disciplinary  conduct  of  the  Collegiate  Department, 
subject  at  all  times  to  the  counsel  of  the  faculty  and 
to  the  ordinances  of  the  trustees,  and  he  shall  receive 
for  his  services  the  annual  salary  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  ($1,000.) 

4.  The  professor  of  Ancient  and  Modern  Languages, 
and  the  professor  of  Natural  and  Exact  Sciences,  shall 
give  diligent  instruction  in  their  proper  departments. 


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OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


shall  have  the  entire  disciplinary  control  of  students 
while  under  their  immediate  instruction,  shall  coun- 
sel the  president  in  relation  to  the  government  of  the 
institution,  and  shall  severally  receive  as  compensa- 
tion for  their  services  the  annual  salary  of  nine  hun- 
dred dollars,  ($900.) 


PRELIMINARY,   OR  ACADEMICAL  DEPARTMENT. 

5.  The  president  of  the  University  shall  act  as 
principal  of  the  Academical  Pepartment,  and  shall 
have  the  same  supervisory  control  of  it  as  of  the  Col- 
legiate Department,  and  until  further  provision  be 
made,  he  shall  give  such  instruction,  not  inconsistent 
with  his  duties  as  a  professor  in  the  Collegiate  De- 
partment, as  the  wants  of  the  inptitntion  require. 

6.  The  Preliminary,  or  Academic  Department, 
shall  be  divided  into  two  divisions :  first,  the  male ; 
second,  the  female.  •- .    :     ■ 

7.  The  male  division,  except  in  the  care  and  in- 
struction of  boys  under  the  age  of  ten  years,  shall  be 
under  the  tuition  of  a  preceptor. 

8.  The  female  division,  except  in  case  of  advanced 
scholars  desirous  of  pursuing  collegiate  or  ornamental 
branches,  which  may  be  by  the  regulation  of  the  in- 
stitution be  taught  by  a  preceptor,  shall  be  under  the 
tuition  of  a  preceptress,  whose  salary  shall  not  bo 
more  tlian  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  ($750.) 

A  rule  was  also  passed  requiring  each  teacher  to 
keep  a  faithful  record  of  the  daily  attendance,  recita- 
tions, and  conduct  of  each  pupil,  grading  them  so 


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cita- 
n  so 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


187 


that  their  standing  should  range  from  one  hundred 
to  five  hundred,  according  to  their  propriety  of  con- 
duct, or  merit  of  recitations.  Other  rules  were 
also  adopted  in  relation  to  giving  marks  of  demerit 
for  absence  and  other  causes,  and  to  regulate  the 
conduct  of  students  in  their  rooms,  and  in  relation 
to  the  price  of  tuition,  and  public  examinations  and 
exhibitions. 

The  school  was  conducted  the  first  year  of  its 
history  under  the  charter  with  some  good  degree  of 
success,  though  every  thing  pertaining  to  it  was  in  a 
crude  and  imperfect  state,  or  rather  in  a  state  of 
formation. 

There  were  no  other  means  for  the  support  of  the 
school  than  was  furnished  by  the  tuition  paid  by  the 
pupils,  and  the  receipts  from  this  quarter  were  so 
limited  that  it  was  necessary  to  place  the  salaries  of 
the  teachers  at  a  very  low  figure.  But  improvement 
marked  the  progress  of  the  institution,  and  a  better 
day  seemed  to  be  dawning. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Willamette  University  under  the  charter  was  held  in 
the  chapel  of  the  Oregon  Institute  March  1,  1850. 
Up  to  this  period  no  special  efforts  had  been  made 
to  raise  an  endowment  fund  aside  from  endeavoring 
to  secure  the  interests  involved  in  the  land  claim, 
already  described.  This,  if  it  could  have  been  se- 
cured according  to  the  original  purpose  of  the  trust- 
ees, would  have  made  a  splendid  endowment,  at  least 
for  some  years ;  but  as  the  amount  arising  from  the 
land  wliich  could  be  made  available  as  an  endowment 


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OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


fund  from  the  loss  of  more  than  one  half  of  the  claim 
was  necessarily  small,  amounting  to  but  a  few  thou- 
sand dollars,  it  became  absolutely  necessary  to  enter 
with  energy  into  other  measures  to  accomplish  the 
same  object.  Accordingly  at  this  first  annual  meet- 
ing under  the  charter,  as  the  duty  of  developing  the 
Willamette  University  as  an  institution  of  learning 
was  devolved  upon  the  trustees  of  the  same,  and  as, 
in  the  judgment  of  the  Board,  the  time  had  come 
when  the  wants  of  the  community  and  the  interests 
of  the  institution  demanded  an  immediate  efibrt  to 
provide  an  endowment  thereof,  it  was  therefore  re- 
solved to  raise  a  fund  as  soon  as  practicable,  addi- 
tional to  the  interest  arising  from  the  land,  to  consist 
of  two  parts. 

1.  A  fund  for  the  support  of  the  Board  of  Instruc- 
tion of  said  university,  which  shall  be  irreducible, 
and  the  income  of  which  shall  amount  to  at  least 
five  thousand  dollars,  ($5,000.) 

2.  A  building  fund,  which  shall  amount  in  total  to 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  ($25,000,)  and  which 
shall  be  at  the  direct  disposal  of  the  trustees,  to  be 
devoted  to  the  purpose  of  erecting  suitable  buildings 
for  the  convenience  of  the  university. 

These  funds  were  to  be  raised  by  the  sale  of  schol- 
arships, entitling  the  holders  thereof  to  the  privilege 
of  sending  a  pupil  to  be  instructed  free  of  tuition  in 
the  institution  for  the  term  of  time  mentioned  in  the 
certificate  of  each  of  such  scholarships,  and  to  the 
department  mentioned  in  the  same.  Three  orders  of 
scholarships  were  to  be  sold,  as  follows :   The  first 


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OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


189 


should  entitle  the  holder  thereof  to  the  tuition  of  one 
pupil  in  the  Preparatory  Department  for  the  period  of 
ten  years,  and  should  be  sold  for  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars,  ($150;)  the  second  should  entitle  the  holder 
to  the  privilege  of  sending  one  pupil,  free  of  tuition, 
to  either  the  Preparatory  or  Collegiate  Department,  or 
both  of  them,  for  ten  years,  and  should  be  sold  for 
two  hundred  dollars,  ($200,)  provided  always  that  no 
such  holder  should  be  entitled  to  the  tuition  of  more 
than  one  pupil  at  a  time  in  said  institution  on  ac- 
count of  said  scholarship,  and  provided  that  such 
scholarship  shall  not  entitle  any  person  to  instruction 
in  the  ornamontal  branches. 

The  third  order  was  that  of  perpetual  scholarships, 
entitling  the  holders  to  tuition  of  pupils  in  any  of 
the  departments  of  said  institution  during  the  exist- 
ence thereof,  should  be  sold  for  fiive  hundred  dollars, 
(C500,)  and  subject  to  the  same  restrictions  as  the 
former.  These  scholarships  were  made  assignable, 
and  when  assigned  entitled  the  assignee  to  the  same 
privileges  and  interests  in  said  institution  as  were 
vested  in  the  original  or  in  any  subsequent  holder 
thereof  at  the  time  of  the  assignment. 

The  energy  with  which  the  Board  entered  into 
this  endowment  enterprise  may  be  further  seen  in  the 
fact  that  the  bishop  presiding  at  the  next  annual  con- 
ference was  to  be  requested  to  appoint  the  presiding 
elders  of  this  conference  agents  to  procure  funds  for 
the  institution.  It  was  further  arranged  by  the 
Board  that  the  funds  accruing  to  the  institution  from 
the  sale  of  scholarships  should  be  divided,  so  that  one 


190 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


r^ 


'•!.•     i 


third  should  be  appropriated  to  the  building  fund 
until  the  same  should  amount  to  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars,  ($25,000,)  after  which  all  moneys  accruing 
from  the  sale  of  scholarships  shall  accrue  to  the  irre- 
ducible fuTid,  and  the  other  two  thirds  of  all  moneys 
accruing  as  before  stated  should  continue  to  accrue  to 
the  said  irred"dble  fund  for  the  support  of  the  Board 
of  Instruction. 

The  agent  of  the  university  was  instructed  and 
authorized  to  secure  lands,  or  any  other  gifts  to  the 
institution,  either  by  donation,  or  as  security  for  the 
payment  for  the  same,  under  the  direction  of  the 
executive  committee.  Another  act  of  importance  by 
the  Board  at  this  time  was  the  passage  of  a  resolution 
requesting  the  bishop  at  the  next  session  of  the  con- 
ference to  appoint  F.  S.  Hoyt  president  of  the  Willa- 
mette University. 

With  the  experience  of  the  past,  the  Board  found 
it  necessary  to  improve  upon  the  police  of  the  school, 
and  consequently  under  the  same  date  the  following 
rules  to  regulate  the  general  conduct  of  the  students 
as  far  as  possible  were  enacted  : 

Drinking  wine  or  intoxicating  liquors,  smoking, 
card-playing,  swearing,  immorality  of  any  kind, 
quarreling,  rude  and  unkind  treatment  of  fellow- 
pupils,  the  throwing  of  stones,  disobedience,  indo- 
lence, and  any  other  acts  or  behavior  calculated  to 
injure  the  reputation  and  peace  of  the  university,  or 
the  moral  habits  of  the  students,  were  entirely  prohib- 
ited. The  disciplinary  arrangements  of  the  institu- 
tion further  provided  that  in  cases  of  the  violation  of 


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OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


191 


the  rules,  after  due  admonition,  the  president  shall, 
where  circumstances  permit,  notify  the  parents  of 
such  pupils,  after  which,  if  the  faculty  judge  it  neces- 
sary, said  pupil  may  be  suspended  from  the  privileges 
of  the  institution  for  any  period  of  time  not  exceed- 
ing fourteen  days,  within  which  time  the  executive 
committee  shall  be  called  together  and  decide  upon 
the  relation  of  such  pupil  to  the  institution,  provided 
that  in  extreme  cases  of  violation  of  rule,  or  of  im- 
proper behavior,  the  president,  by  and  with  the  con- 
Bent  of  the  faculty,  shall  have  the  power  summarily 
to  expel. 

The  institution  had  possessed  a  twofold  character, 
being  partly  a  boarding-school  and  partly  not,  some 
of  the  young  men  occupying  rooms  in  the  third  story 
of  the  institute  building,  and  boarding  themselves, 
and  some  young  men  and  young  ladies  boarding  in 
private  families,  and  some  of  the  pupils  boarding 
with  their  parents  or  guardians  at  home,  and  it  was 
difficult  to  adapt  any  given  set  of  rules  to  such  a 
variety  of  circumstances ;  but  to  meet  some  of  the 
exigences  of  the  case,  and  to  produce  uniformity  as 
far  as  possible,  it  was  ordained  that  study  hours  both 
for  the  evening  and  the  day  should  be  announced  by 
the  president  at  the  beginning  of  each  quarter,  and 
during  such  hours  students  were  required  to  attend 
closelv  to  their  studies.  And  those  who  studied  in 
their  rooms  were  required  to  maintain  the  same  quiet- 
ness and  diligence  as  though  under  the  eye  of  the 
teacher.  And  all  business,  work,  paying  or  receiv- 
ing visits,  were  prohibited  during  study  hours.     And 


\l 


i 


1 


il 


192 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


no  visiting  about  town,  or  at  stores,  shops,  or  hotels, 
were  to  bo  allowed  during  the  evening.  And  to  ren- 
der this  arrangement  effective,  parents  and  guardians 
of  pupils  residing  in  the  vicinity  were  requested  to 
have  their  children  and  wards  who  attended  school 
conform  to  this  rule  as  far  as  possible,  both  for  their 
own  improvement  and  for  good  example. 

Up  to  this  period  the  school  had  been  of  a  mixed 
character,  the  different  departments  not  having  been 
well  defined,  the  smaller  pupils  being  connected  with 
the  larger  in  the  same  rooms ;  but  now  a  primary 
division  was  established,  including  boys  and  girls 
under  and  about  ten  years  of  age,  which  were  to  be 
under  the  tuition  of  a  male  or  female  teacher,  as 
might  be  judged  proper  by  the  executive  committee. 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


193 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SCHOLARSHIPS  AND  INTERNAL  HISTORY. 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1854,  pursuant  to  a  call  of  the 
president,  the  Board  of  Trustees  met  at  the  chapel  of 
the  institute  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting,  if  possible, 
the  scholarship  system,  already  to  some  extent  de- 
scribed, and  of  introducing  some  other  arrangements 
which  might  serve  as  a  basis  of  action  in  our  efforts 
to  advance  the  financial  interests  of  the  university. 
As  the  scholarship  system  which  has  been  introduced 
into  the  financial  plans  of  the  Willamette  Univer- 
sity constitutes  one  of  the  main  pillars  of  its  support, 
it  would  not  be  proper  in  this  history  to  omit  a  par- 
ticular description  of  this  policy.  The  general  prin- 
ciples have  been  referred  to  on  a  previous  page,  and 
to  provide  for  the  application  of  these  principles  was 
the  object  of  the  present  action  of  the  Board.  It  had 
been  resolved  to  issue  three  kinds  or  degrees  of  schol- 
ai-ships,  one  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  ($150,) 
one  of  two  hundred  dollars,  ($200,)  and  one  of  five 
hundred  dollars,  ($500,)  the  first  two  ten  years'  scholar- 
ships, and  the  last  perpetual.  It  was  necessary  to 
execute  a  form  of  certificate  adapted  to  each  one  of 
these  grades,  according  to  the  design  of  the  scholar- 
ship. This  was  done  by  the  Board,  and  the  follow- 
ing are  the  forms  adopted  for  the  three  kinds : 


194 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


FIRST  FORM  FOR  A  TEN  YEARS'   SCHOLARSHIP. 

Having  paid  to  the  undersignod,  an  authorized 
agfent  of  the  Willainctle  University,  the  sum  of  one 

hundred  and  fifty  dollars, has  entitled  himself 

or  his  order,  upon  the  presentation  of  this  certificate, 
to  one  scholarship,  for  the  term  of  ten  years  from  the 
date  hereof,  in  the  Preparatory  Department  of  said 
university. 


V 


SECOND   FORM   FOR  A  TEN  YEARS'   SCHOLARSHIP. 

Having  paid  to  the  undersigned,  an  authorized 
agent  of  the  Willamette  University,  the  sum  of  two 


hundred  dollars. 


has  entitled   himself  or  his 


order,  upon  presentation  of  this  certificate,  to  one 
scholarship,  for  the  term  of  ten  years  from  the  date 
hereof,  in  the  Preparatory  or  Collegiate  Department 
of  said  university,  or  in  both. 

THIRD  FORM — PERPETUAL  SCHOLARSHIP. 

Having  paid  the  undersigned,  agent  of  the  Willa- 
mette University,  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars, 
has  entitled  himself  or  his  order,  upon  the  pre- 
sentation of  this  certificate,  to  one  perpetual  scholar- 
ship in  the  Preparatory  or  Collegiate  Department  of 
said  university,  or  in  both. 

To  carry  out  these  and  other  financial  arrange- 
ments contemplated,  the  Board  appointed,  perhaps, 
the  most  formidable  phalanx  of  agents  that  ever  was 
employed  by  any  single  university  at  the  same  time. 
It  consisted  of  Rev.  A.   F.    Waller,  Rev.  T.  H. 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


195 


Pearne,  Rev.  James  II.  Wilber,  Ttov.  Wiliiam 
Roberts,  and  tlio  lion.  George  II.  "Williams.  These 
were  all  regularly  appointed  agents  of  the  university, 
and  authorized  to  receive  donations  of  money  or 
property  for  said  university,  to  sell  scholarships  and 
receive  pay  or  securitj'  therefor  pursuant  to  the 
resolutions  of  the  Board  instructing  them  relative 
thereto,  and  to  execute  all  necessary  receipts,  certifi- 
cates, and  instruments  of  writing  for  the  transaction 
of  such  business.  As  it  was  contemplated  to  receive 
lands  as  well  as  money  in  payment  for  scholar- 
ships, it  was  necessary  to  have  a  form  of  deed 
or  bond  suited  to  the  case ;  accordingly  Judge  "Wil- 
liams, being  a  legal  gentleman,  was  requested  by  the 
Board  to  draft  a  form  suited  to  the  circumstances. 
The  following  is  the  form  adopted  by  the  Board  : 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I, ,  am 

held  and  firmlv  bound  unto  the  "Willamette  Uni- 
vcrsity  in  the  penal  sum  of dollars,  to  the  pay- 
ment of  which  sum  I  bind  myself,  my  heirs,  ex- 
ecutors, and  administrators.   Sealed  with  my  seal,  and 


dated  this 


day  of 


18—. 


The  condition  of  the  above  obligation  is  such,  that 

if  the  above  named shall  convey,  by  good  and 

sufficient  deed,  within  ,  from  the  date  hereof, 

the  following  described  lands,  to  wit, ,  as  a  do- 
nation to  said  university,  then  this  obligation  to  be 
null,  otherwise  of  force. 

The  agents  were  further  instructed  to  make  the 
securities  for  ten  years'  scholarships  in  the  Pre- 
paratory Department  payable,  the  interest  annually, 


196 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


m' 


5/ 


S-v: 


1' 


! 

i 


and  principal  in  two  years ;  and  those  for  ton  years' 
Bcliolarsbips  in  tlie  Preparatory  or  Collegiate  Depart- 
ment, or  both,  payable,  interest  annually  and  prin- 
cipal in  three  years ;  and  the  securities  for  perpetual 
scholarships,  interest  payable  annually  and  ])rincii)al 
in  five  years ;  the  rate  of  interest  to  be  not  less  than 
the  legal  rates,  and  both  interest  and  princ;^) ;'  ])ay- 
able  to  any  authorized  agent  of  the  F  \rd,  or  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  same. 

The  securities  which  the  agents  were  authorized 
to  receive  were  to  consist  of  promissory  notes,  with 
one  or  more  sureties,  or  mortgages  upon  real  estate ; 
and  the  seal  which  was  adopted  by  the  university 
was  the  eagle  side  of  a  United  States  ten  dollar  gold 
coin.  With  this  financial  system  of  operations  thus 
far  introduced,  and  with  such  an  array  of  talent  in 
the  corps  of  agents  to  carry  out  the  plan  to  practical 
effect  in  the  sale  of  scholarships  and  in  the  use  of 
other  measures  to  establish  an  endowment  fund,  we 
will  leave  them  for  the  time  being  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the. important  work  committed  to  them,  and 
for  a  while  attend  to  some  other  matters  of  historical 
interest  connected  with  the  Oregon  Institute  and 
Willamette  University. 

In  the  regular  course  of  our  history  we  now 
approach  an  important  matter  of  financial  interest  to 
the  university,  with  which  stands  connected  a  name, 
the  mention  of  which  will  excite  emotions  of  deep 
interest  in  the  minds  of  all  that  were  favored  with 
his  acquaintance,  and  especially  of  all  '•.he  early 
Oregonians.    The  name  is  that  of  Alanson  Beers, 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


197 


BceiB, 


and  the  interest  referred  to  is  that  which  was  con- 
nected with  wliat  was  called  the  Beers  House.  Tlio 
name  of  Alansv;  Beers  ceased  to  appear  in  connection 
with  tlio  acts  if  the  Board  in  the  spring  of  1853, 
simply  her  i  use  ho  was  no  longer  an  inhabitant  of 
earth.  After  a  very  severe  illness  of  a  few  days 
only,  he  passf  1  at  that  time  from  the  scenes  of  earth 
to  the  rewards  of  eternity.  Alanson  Beers  came  to 
Oregon  as  a  lay  member  of  the  Oregon  Mission  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  sailed  with 
his  family,  in  connection  with  a  number  of  other 
persons,  from  Boston  in  July,  1836,  and  entered  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia  River  in  May,  1837.  Though 
he  was  connected  with  the  mission  as  a  blacksmith, 
yet  the  superintendent  placed  him  in  charge  of  tlio 
mission  farm  near  Matheny's  Ferry.  lie  entert.i  at 
once  into  all  the  moral  and  religious  reforms  of  t'le 
day  which  promised  good  to  the  people,  and  he  w  s 
especially  active  and  efficient  in  the  formation  of  the 
provisional  government.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
first  legislative  committee  of  the  territory,  and  also 
of  the  pxe^'utive  committee  of  three  who  acted  as  a 
kind  of  triune  governor  of  Oregon.  He  was  efficient, 
reliable,  and  honest  in  all  these  relations,  winning 
the  favor  and  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
had  intercourse.  In  February,  1842,  he  was  present 
at  a  public  meeting  where  the  Oregon  Institute  re- 
ceived its  birth,  and  was  elected  one  of  the  members 
of  the  original  Board  of  Trustees.  At  an  annual 
meeting  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  Board,  and 

served  a  few  years  in  that  capacity,  always  showing 

13 


198 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


i' 


,4     : 


l!  -I'':' 


I    '•'■■ 


that  he  had  thp  interests  of  the  institution  deeply  at 
heart. 

He  conceived  the  idea  that  a  boarding  house 
connected  with  the  institution,  properly  conducted, 
would  do  much  to  promote  its  interests,  and  he 
applied  to  the  Board  for  the  privilege  of  erecting  a 
suitable  house  for  that  purpose  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  what  is  known  as  the  sixty  acre  reserve. 
The  Board  consented  to  the  erection  of  such  a  house, 
but  did  not  either  sell  or  lease  Mr,  Beers  the  land 
upon  which  the  house  was  located.  The  house  was 
therefo "e  the  property  of  Mr.  Beers  before  his  death, 
and  was  recognized  by  the  Board  as  belonging  to  his 
estate.  Consequently,  on  November  1,  1854,  the 
question  was  brought  before  the  Board,  "  What  dis- 
position can  be  made  of  the  property  belonging  to 
the  estate  of  Alanson  Beers  situated  on  the  lands 
of  the  university  ? "  Eev.  J.  L.  Parrish  was  the  ad- 
ministrator of  the  estate,  and  having  made  various 
statements  in  relation  to  the  circumstances  under 
which  the  building  was  erected,  the  Board  proceeded 
to  adopt  the  following  preamble  and  resolution  : 

Whereas  Mr.  Alanson  Beers,  in  pursuance  of  an 
arrangement  made  with  the  Oregon  Institute,  did 
erect  on  the  premises  of  said  institute  a  houre  to  be 
permanently  occupied  as  a  boarding  house  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  institute ;  and  whereas  said 
Alanson  Beers  has  subsequently  deceased,  and,  there- 
fore, cannot  carry  out  the  contract  made  with  tlie 
institute  ;  and  whereas  the  power  of  controlling  the 
interests  of  the  Oregon  Institute  is  now  vested  in  the 


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199 


trustees  of  the  Willamette  University,  therefore, 
liesolved,  that  we  proceed  to  elect  a  committee  to 
take  into  consideration  the  subject  of  the  interests  of 
the  Institute  in  the  premises  above-mentioned,  and 
report  at  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board  a  plan 
for  the  settlement  of  the  questions  involved. 

This  committee,  after  a  full  investigation  of  the 
subject,  recommended  that,  in  adjusting  the  interests 
of  the  institution  in  the  Beers  House,  the  original 
intention  of  the  parties  in  the  erection  of  the  house 
should  be  strictly  observed ;  and  if  it  were  necessary 
in  carrying  out  this  design  to  lease  the  land  for  a 
term  of  years,  it  should  be  so  leased,  and  the  Board 
at  first  adopted  this  recommendation.  Subsequently, 
however,  the  Board  reconsidered  this  action,  and 
provided  an  agent  to  be  present  at  the  adminis- 
trator's sale  of  said  house,  with  discretionary  authority 
to  purchase  it,  which  he  did  by  bidding  it  off  at 
three  thousand  dollars.  But  it  is  not  necessary 
to  trace  all  the  action  of  the  Board  from  time  to 
time  in  relation  to  the  Beers  House.  It  will  be 
sufficient  to  say  that  after  a  number  of  trials  to  use 
it  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  constructed, 
it  was  finally  decided  that  the  time  had  probably  not 
yet  come  wlien  a.  boarding  house  could  be  sustained 
in  connection  with  the  Willamette  University. 
Accordingly,  the  whole  property  was  sold  to  Mr. 
John  Ford,  and  by  him  conveyed  to  its  present 
occupant.  General  John  F.  Miller.  Thus  the  object 
contemplated  by  the  builder  of  this  house,  Mr.  Alan- 
son  Beers,  was,  in  part  at  least,  defeated ;  and  yet 


1  T 


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OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


it  is  quite  probable  tliat  if  the  originator  had  sur- 
vived it  would  have  been  a  great  blessing  to  the 
institution.  But  he  fell ;  just  as  he  was  preparing  to 
move  into  the  building,  all  finished,  and  its  capacious 
rooms  waiting  oeoupancy,  he  fell ;  and  when  he  fell 
society  lost  a  most  valuable  member,  the  young  and 
rising  territory  one  of  its  most  useful  and  cherished 
citizens,  and  the  Willamette  University  one  of  its 
warmest  and  most  faithful  friends.  As  has  been 
stated,  he  was  one  of  the  original  nine  who  con- 
stituted the  first  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  Oregon 
Institute,  and  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Board  by 
re-election  from  time  to  time  until  his  death. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  November  1, 1854, 
Rev.  William  Roberts,  who  had  at  a  previous  annual 
meeting  been  elected  secretary,  resigned  liis  position 
in  consequence  of  his  having  been  appointed  presid- 
ing elder  in  Washington  Territory,  and  at  an  ad- 
journed meeting  the  Board  elected  Gustavus  Ilines 
to  fill  his  place  until  the  close  of  the  year. 

The  second  annual  meeting  under  the  charter  was 
held  in  the  chapel  of  the  institute  March  7, 1855,  and 
the  following  persons  were  elected  officers  of  the  Board 
for  the  ensuing  year : 

Rev.  David  Leslie,  President ;  Rev.  J.  D.  Boon, 
Yice-President ;  Rev.  Gustavus  IIines,  Secretary; 
Mr.  Elisha  Strong,  Treasurer. 

Rev.  A.  F.  Waller,  Rev.  J.  D.  Boon,  Hon.  G.  11. 
Williams,  Hon.  E.  N.  Cook,  and  William  II.  Wil- 
son, were  elected  members  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee. 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


201 


At  this  meeting  President  Hojt  presented  liis  res- 
ignation to  the  Board,  desiring  it  to  take  effect  at  the 
close  of  the  summer  term.  The  resignation  was  re- 
ferred to  a  select  committee.  At  an  adjourned  meet- 
ing the  constitution  was  so  amended  as  to  require 
seven  to  be  on  the  executive  committee,  and  Gusta- 
vus  nines  and  F.  S.  Hoyt  were  elected  to  fill  up  that 
committee,  and  the  following  persons  were  nomin- 
ated and  recommended  to  the  Oregon  Annual  Confer- 
ence for  election  to  fill  the  class  in  the  Board  whose 
term  of  service  had  expired :  L.  F.  Grover,  W.  H. 
"Wilson,  A.  M.  Belt,  C.  Bennet,  William  Eoberts,  A. 
C.  Gibbs,  J.  G.  Wilson,  D.  Smith,  John  C.  Peebles, 
George  H.  Jones,  C.  A.  Eeed. 

The  executive  committee  during  the  year  had  made 
some  repairs  in  the  foundation  and  chimneys  of  the 
institute  building,  and  recommended  that  measures 
be  taken  for  further  improvement  in  both  the  build- 
ing and  grounds  the  ensuing  year. 

The  Board  also  resolved  to  appoint  seven  agents  to 
solicit  scholarships  and  donations  for  the  institution 
during  the  coming  year,  and  the  following  persons 
were  elected  said  agents :  T.  II.  Pearne,  F.  S.  Iloyt, 
A.  F.  Waller,  L.  F.  Grover,  Samuel  Parker,  T.  F. 
Royal,  and  E.  M.  Barnum ;  and  the  executive  com- 
mittee was  instructed  to  procure  printed  certificates 
of  scholarships,  to  be  given  to  those  who  purchase 
the  same,  and  action  was  taken  to  change  the  certifi- 
cates so  as  to  agree  with  the  present  arrangements  of 
the  Board. 

At  this  time  the  select  committee  to  whom  was 


'  i' 


202 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


f 


1  1    1' 


I  S, 


1        ™ 
3  J 


111 


*     i 


\i> 


referred  the  matter  of  the  resignation  of  President 
Iloyt  reported  adversely  to  the  acceptance  of  tlie 
resignation,  and  recommended  to  the  Board  the  elec- 
tion of  a  professor  of  mathematics,  and  appointed  a 
committee  of  correspondence  on  the  subject.  Tlie 
report  was  adopted ;  but  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of 
the  Board  so  much  of  it  as  related  to  the  election  of 
a  professor  of  mathematics  was  reconsidered,  and 
finally  amended  so  as  to  provide  for  the  election  of  a 
professor  to  take  his  place  in  the  institution  at  the 
commencement  of  the  fall  term. 

It  is  in  connection  with  the  operations  of  the  school 
during  the  present  year  that  the  name  of  Mrs.  Thurs- 
ton appears  upon  the  records.  She  had  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  school  as  one  of  the  faculty  for  some 
time  previously,  and  the  Boa^d,  placing  a  high  esti- 
mate upon  her  services,  and  receiving  an  intimation 
that  she  would  probably  retire  from  the  school,  passed 
a  resolution  respectfully  inviting  her  to  remain  in 
connection  with  the  institute  as  prece^,     )ss. 

The  Board  received  a  communication  at  this  time 
from  Rev.  T.  H.  Pearne,  Financial  Agent  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
requesting  payment  of  whatever  sum  might  be  due 
on  the  four  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
dollars  and  eighty-three  cents,  ($•1,437  83,)  secured 
by  bond  executed  by  W.  II.  Wilson  and  others  to 
said  Missionary  Society.  This  communication  was 
referred  to  a  committee,  which  was  instructed  to 
correspond  witli  the  Board  of  Managers  of  said  soci- 
ety, and  secure  the  formal  relinquishment  to  this 


1 » 
If 


If  ' 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


203 


Board  of  Trustees  of  the  claim  and  bond  above  re- 
ferred to. 

Questions  from  time  to  time  had  arisen  since  the 
incorporation  of  the  institution  and  the  adoption  of 
the  name  of  Willamette  University,  and  the  schol- 
arship system  under  the  charter,  in  regard  to  the 
rights  of  the  original  subscribers  to  the  funds  of  the 
Oregon  Institute  in  relation  to  scholarships ;  whetlier 
they  were  entitled  to  seholai'ships  by  virtue  of  their 
former  subscriptions,  or  whether  those  subscriptions 
were  to  ,be  ignored  in  the  sale  of  scholarships,  and 
the  old  subscribers  be  required  to  pay  the  same  as 
others  who  had  never  subscribed  in  aid  of  the  institu- 
tion. To  ascertain  the  facts  in  relation  to  the  matter, 
so  that  the  Board  could  come  to  a  just  conclusion  in 
the  premises,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  procure 
and  take  into  consideration  certain  papers  relating 
to  the  origin  and  early  history  of  the  institution. 
This  committee  consisted  of  Rev.  Gustavus  Iliues, 
Rev.  J.  L.  Parrish,  Rev.  A.  F.  Waller,  and  Hon.  L. 
F.  Grover.  This  committee  obtained  the  original 
papers  of  the  Oregon  Institute,  and  upon  them  made 
their  report.  In  their  report  they  gave  the  history 
of  the  institution  from  its  incipiency  up  to  that  time, 
and  on  the  facts  presented  the  committee  found, 
1.  That  in  the  establishment  of  the  Oregon  Institute 
in  1842  on  Wallace's  Prairie  the  institution  was  in- 
tended as  a  progressive  one,  with  an  express  intent 
of  advancing  the  same  to  our  present  organization  ;  / 
that  at  no  time  since  has  the  object  of  the  institution 
been  abandoned,  however  embarrassed  its  condition 


^■"ll!l^ 


i  ■ 


■i 


204 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


§: 


'A 


; 


i 


if; 


m  ;■ 


i^ 


or  informal  its  proceedings ;  and,  2.  That  tlie  early 
patrons  of  the  Oregon  Institute,  who  entitled  tliem- 
selves  to  scholarships  in  the  same,  were  equitably  as 
well  as  legally  entitled  to  scholarships  in  the  Willa- 
mette University  in  value  equal  to  the  amounts  paid 
by  them  into  the  treasury  of  said  institution.  This 
proved  to  be  acceptable  to  the  Board,  and  was  conse- 
quently adopted ;  and  a  meeting,  held  August  15, 
1855,  in  carrying  out  the  principles  of  the  report  of 
the  Board,  took  action,  granting  Rev.  David  Leslie, 
Rev.  L.  H.  Judson,  and  Rev.  Jason  Lee  (deceased) 
perpetual  scholarships  for  having  paid  five  hundred 
dollars  each  to  build  up  the  Oregon  Institute.  And 
it  was  furthermore  decreed  that  all  who  had  hereto- 
fore entitled  themselves  to  scholarships  in  full,  or  in 
part,  be  entitled  to  avail  themselves  of  the  benefit  of 
such  scholarships  from  the  date  of  the  certificates  of 
said  scholarship  issued  or  to  be  issued  by  virtue  of 
the  late  action  of  the  Board  in  the  premises.  In  the 
case  of  Rev.  Jason  Lee,  deceased,  the  action  of  the 
Board  at  this  time  was  eminently  just  and  proper 
It  was  as  follows : 

Whereas  the  Rev.  Jason  Lee  by  his  last  will  do- 
nated to  this  institution  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars  over  and  above  the  amount  of  five  hundred 
dollars  ($500)  personally  donated  by  him  in  his  life- 
time ;  therefore, 

liesolved,  That  a  perpetual  scholarship  be  issued  to 
the  estate  of  said  Jason  Lee,  and  that  all  tuition 
heretofore  accrued  due  from  said  estate  be  remitted 
in  consideration  of  said  bequest  of  one  hundred  dol 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


205 


lars.  And  further,  in  acting  upon  this  principle,  it 
was  determined  that,  in  view  of  the  deep  interest 
which  Alanson  Beers  took  in  the  establishment  and 
maintenance  of  the  institution,  each  of  his  children 
be  presented  with  a  ten  years'  scholarship,  not  to  be 
transferred. 

The  Board  of  Instruction  for  the  past  two  years 
had  varied  somewhat  from  time  to  time,  as  it  was 
found  quite  impossible  as  yet  to  obtain  permanent 
teachers.  It  had  consisted  of  Mr.  Hoyt,  who  was 
both  president  and  principal  of  the  academical  de- 
partment ;  Mrs.  Thurston,  preceptress ;  and  Miss 
Julia  Bryant,  teacher  in  the  primary  department. 
But  changes  had  taken  place,  so  that  at  the  close  of 
the  year  ending  February,  1856,  we  find  Eev.  F.  S. 
Hoyt  president  and  professor,  Kev.  Charles  Hall 
Professor  of  Exact  Sciences,  and  Mrs.  Hoyt  pre- 
ceptress, and  teacher  in  the  primary  department. 


li 


206 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


"if 


CHAPTER  IX. 

POPULATION,  NEW  CONSTITUTION,  AND  ENDOWMENT 

We  have  now  reached  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  his 
tory  of  the  Oregon  Institute,  and  the  fourth  of  the 
Willamette  University.  During  that  period  we  have 
been  passing  through  great  changes,  civil,  political,  and 
religious ;  but  especially  in  regard  to  the  population 
of  our  country.  In  1842,  when  the  Oregon  Institute 
sprang  into  being,  there  were  not  two  hundred  white 
persons  of  American  origin,  all  told,  on  the  Pacific 
slope  of  our  continent.  Indeed  at  that  time,  taken 
as  a  whole,  the  country  was  in  a  state  of  comparative 
barbarism.  A  more  heterogeneoiir  class  of  hvimanity, 
small  as  it  was,  could  not  have  been  found  in  an} 
land  than  had  sought  an  asylum  in  the  wilds  of  the 
Pacific  coast.  Here  were  the  Indian,  the  legitimate 
proprietor  of  the  soil.  Englishmen,  Scotchmen,  Irish- 
men, Americans,  Germans,  Prussians,  Italians,  Span- 
ish, Frenchmen,  Danes,  Canadians,  Hawaiians,  Ota- 
heitans,  Africans,  and  Chinese.  From  intermarrying 
with  one  another,  and  particularly  with  the  natives 
of  the  countrv  ever  since  white  men  first  visited 
these  shores,  an  amalgamated  population  had  been 
introduced,  presenting  every  variety  of  color,  dispo- 
sition, and  character  of  which  the  human  species  is 
capable.     The  English,  Scotch,  French,   and  some 


'Ml^^ 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


207 


others,  had  been  introduced  into  the  country  mainly 
through  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 

Many  persons  had  found  their  way  ^-y  Oregon  from 
the  numerous  vessels  which,  from  the  earliest  dis- 
coveries, had  touched  at  various  points  along  tliis 
extended  coast.  Scarcely  a  ship  had  visited  the 
Columbia  River  for  years  from  which  two  or  more 
had  not  made  their  escape,  and,  secreting  themselves 
until  the  vessel  had  left,  they  would  come  forth  to 
mingle  with  the  motley  inhabitants  as  citizens  of 
Oregon.  Some  had  deserted  their  ships  on  the  coast 
of  California,  and  had  fought  their  way  to  the  valley 
of  the  famed  "Multnomah"  through  the  hostile  tribes 
that  roamed  among  the  Klamath  and  Umpqua  Mount- 
ains, and  some  had  found  their  way  to  the  fertile 
valleys  of  Oregon  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  them- 
selves ;  men  who,  in  connection  with  the  American 
companies  established  for  purposes  of  traffic  with  the 
Blackfeet,  Nez  Forces,  and  other  Indian  tribes,  had 
for  many  years  been  ranging  the  mountainous  regions 
of  the  vast  interior,  experiencing  the  most  surprising 
adventures  among  the  Indians,  and  enduring  every 
variety  of  hardships  which  human  nature  is  capable 
of  suffering,  and  at  last  had  found  a  peaceful  and  quiet 
retreat  on  the  banks  of  some  beautiful  river  or  stroam- 
let  meandering  through  the  vales,  where  they  were 
secure  from  savage  violence  and  treachery,  and  where 
most  of  them  proposed  to  close  their  earthly  career. 
Some  of  these  mountaineei's  had  Indian  wives,  and 
formed  an  attachment  for  the  mothers  of  their  sons 
and  daughters,  and  consequently,  on  leaving  the  scenes 


i!  ?  y. 


r 


I 


M 


n 


„ 


u 


i'  i 


■  n 


ii: 


208 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


of  their  savage  life,  they  took  with  them  their  wives 
and  children,  anxious  that  both  might  be  benefited  by 
mingling  with  civilized  society ;  and  they  had  heard 
that  civilization  was  springing  up  in  the  midst  of  the 
mixed  population  of  the  valleys  of  Oregon.  The 
most  fruitful  channel,  however,  for  the  supply  of 
population  for  Oregon  was  the  immigration  channel 
from  the  United  States  east  of  the  mountains  to  the 
Pacific  coast.  It  had  long  been  a  problem  whether 
the  unknown  regions  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
would  or  could  ever  be  populated  by  immigrations 
across  the  continent,  direct  from  the  Atlantic  States. 
The  problem,  however,  was  about  to  be  solved. 
Lewis  and  Clark  found  their  way  across.  AVilson 
Price  Hunt  and  company  scaled  the  barriers.  Bon- 
neville and  Wyeth  passed  the  stupendous  gates,  and 
traced  the  waters  as  they  flowed  westward  to  the 
ocean.  The  intrepid  Lee,  the  pioneer  missionary, 
and  his  companions,  explored  the  South  Pass  through 
the  mountains  on  their  passage  toward  the  setting 
sun.  "Whitman  and  Spaulding,  with  their  wives  and 
associates,  followed  in  the  train,  and  found  no  insu- 
perable barriers.  In  1839-4:1  parties  comparatively 
small  made  the  transit  in  safety.  In  1842  the  immi- 
gration numbered  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  per- 
sons in  all.  Up  to  this  period  the  transit  had  been 
made  either  on  foot,  or  on  the  backs  of  mules  or 
Indian  ponies ;  but  now  another  question  was  to  be 
settled.  Can  wheeled  carriages  perform  the  trip 
over  the  mountains,  from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean  ?    Tlie  emphatic  answer  is.  They  can  ; 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


209 


for  in  1843  tlie  iminigratioii,  consisting  of  over  eiglit 
Imndrod  persons,  performed  the  trip  in  wagons  drawn 
by  oxen.  The  gates  were  now  open,  the  bars  were 
all  let  down,  the  problem  was  fully  solved.  Oregon 
and  the  whole  Pacific  coast  were  to  be  peopled  by 
immigration  from  the  Eastern  States.  In  184:4  an- 
other eight  hundred  was  added  to  the  population  in 
the  same  manner.  In  1845  three  thousand  souls 
sought  the  "better  country,"  "not  an  heavenly," 
fanned  by  the  breezes  of  the  western  ocean.  In  1846 
and  1847  the  immigrations  were  respectable  as  to 
numbers;  and  in  1848  the  donation  land  law  was 
passed,  and,  but  for  the  wonderful  discovery  of  gold 
on  the  Sacramento,  in  California,  doubtless  an  over- 
whelming tide  of  immigration  would  have  set  in  to 
Oregon ;  but  as  it  \\  c.j,  for  the  time  being  the  stream 
was  turned  aside;  some  thousands,  however,  annually 
were  added  to  the  population  of  Oregon.  In  1852 
twenty  thousand  men,  women,  and  children  found 
homes  and  rest  in  these  lovely  valleys.  In  1853  ten 
thousand  were  added  to  the  former.  In  1854  and 
1855  the  number,  though  jespectable,  was  very  much 
smaller.  The  aggregate  of  all  these  immigrations, 
diminished  by  just  so  many  as  from  dissatisfaction 
had  left  the  country  or  had  died,  had  occupied  the 
whole  country,  sparsely  in  many  places,  from  Puget's 
Sound  to  Siskin  Mountains,  and  from  the  Cascade 
Mountains  to  the  Pacific  coast. 

We  have  Taken  this  cursory  glance  at  the  popula- 
tion of  Oregon  at  this  time  for  the  purpose  of  show- 
ing the  basis  upon  which  we  were  operating,  the 


4', 
1|f! 


mi 


210 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


\ 


causes  which  impelled  us  forward,  and  the  inci easing 
importance  of  the  institution  which  wo  were  laboring 
to  establish.  The  Oregon  Institute  had  been  located 
in  the  most  delightful  and  fertile  portion  of  the  en- 
tire country,  at  a  very  central  point  in  the  unrivaled 
valley  of  the  Willamette.  The  population  through- 
out the  whole  country,  and  especially  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  institution,  was  continually  increasing,  and 
the  demands  upon  the  school  seemed  (  rrespond- 
ingly  to  increase.  And  hence  the  energy  that  was 
thrown  into  the  action  of  the  Board,  and  hence  the 
conception  and  vigorous  application  of  the  plans  for 
properly  endowing  the  Univei*8ity,  so  that  it  would, 
according  to  the  original  design,  so  far  as  literature 
and  science  were  concerned,  meet  the  growing  de- 
mands of  the  country. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  March  5, 
1856,  the  following  persons  were  elected  officers  for 
the  ensuing  year : 

Eev.  David  Leslie,  President;  Hon.  G.  II. 
"Williams,  Vice-President;  Hon.  L.  F.  Grovek, 
Secretary ;  Elisha  Strong,  Treasurer. 

An  executive  committee  and  an  auditing  com- 
mittee were  also  elected;  a  committee  was  also  ap- 
pointed to  revise  the  constitution,  and,  at  a  meeting 
held  Sept.  10,  1856,  the  Board  adopted  the  constitu- 
tion, as  follows :  , 

constitution.  ♦ 

To  secure  a  regular  and  efficient  discharge  of  their 
duties,  the  Trustees  of  the  V/illamttte  University 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


211 


adopt,  and  agree  to  be  governed  by,  the  following 
constitution : 

Article  I. 

Section  1. — This  association  shall  be  called  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Willamette  University,  pur- 
suant to  the  provision  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation 
granted  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  territory 
of  Oregon,  bearing  date  January  12,  1853. 

Section  2. — The  recognized  duties  of  this  Board 
of  Trustees  shall  be  to  secure  to  the  Willamette 
University  the  possession  and  perpetuity  of  an  ade- 
quate endowment,  to  manage  its  fiscal  afiairs,  and  to 
organize  and  exercise  such  supervision  over  its  de- 
partments of  instruction  as  shall  best  secure  its  use- 
fulness as  an  institution  of  learning. 


^^W' 


Article  U. — Officers. 

Section  1. — The  officers  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
shall  be  a  president,  a  vice-president,  a  secretary,  and 
a  treasurer. 

Section  2. — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president 
to  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Board,  to  call  such 
special  meetings  as  are  hereinafter  provided  for,  to 
subscribe  his  name  to  all  acts  and  proceedings  of  the 
Board  when  necessary  and  proper  to  give  validity 
to  the  same,  to  visit  during  each  term  the  several 
departments  of  instruction  connected  with  the  uni- 
versity, and  to  make  a  written  report  of  their  effi- 
ciency at  the  next  ensuing  meeting  of  the  Board. 


I 


4,  i:  X 


212 


OKEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


f  i( »'  i^ 


Section  3. — It  shall  be  tlie  duty  of  the  vice-pred- 
dent  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  president  in  his 
absence. 

Section  4. — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary 
to  give  due  notice  of  the  meetings  of  the  Board,  to 
keep  a  full  record  of  its  proceedings,  to  attest  and 
pffix  the  seal  of  the  university  to  all  instruments  of 
writing,  whenever  necessary  to  give  them  validity,  to 
receive  and  file  all  papers  and  documents,  collect  all 
moneys  due  the  university,  and  pay  the  same  to  the 
treasurer,  taking  his  receipt  therefor,  and  make  re- 
port to  the  Board  at  each  annual  meeting. 

Section  5. — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treasurer 
to  keep  a  full,  accurate,  and  complete  account  of  the 
fiscal  afiairs  of  the  university,  to  receive  all  moneys 
due  the  institution  for  tuition  or  otherwise,  and  ac- 
count for  the  same ;  to  make  such  exhibit  thereof  at 
each  meeting  as  shall  furnish  the  Board  a  proper  and 
satisfac'j'^i-y  knowledge  of  the  same ;  to  make  a  writ- 
ten report  in  detail  at  each  annual  meeting,  the 
same  having  been  submitted  to  and  received  the  ap- 
proval of  the  auditing  committee,  and  he  shall  in  no 
case  pay  out  money  except  on  the  order  of  the  Board, 
signed  by  the  president,  and  countersigned  by  the 
secretary. 

Section  6. — The  officers  of  the  Board  shall  be 
elected  by  ballot  at  a  regular  meeting,  and  shall  liokl 
their  several  offices  until  the  next  ensuing  annual 
meeting,  or  until  their  Buccessors  are  elected  and 
qualified. 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


213 


Article  in. — Meetikgs. 
Section  1. — The  Board  shall  hold  its  annual 
meetings  on  tlie  Tuesday  preceding  the  collegiate 
anniversary,  and  quarterly  meetings  on  the  third 
"Wednesday  in  November,  February,  and  May,  and 
such  other  meetings  as  may  be  called  by  the  pres- 
ident upon  the  application  of  two  or  more  mem- 
bers of  the  executive  committee.  This  article  was 
amended  so  that  the  third  quarterly  meeting  could 
be  held  at  the  close  of  the  winter  term. 


1\ 


■  n 


it 


n;IM 


t  '4' ! 


Akticle  IV. — Committees. 

Section  1. — There  shall  be  two  standing  commit- 
tees, an  auditing  comniittee  that  shall  consist  of 
three,  and  an  Executive  Committee  to  consist  of  sev- 
en, to  be  elected  annually  from  among  the  members 
of  the  Board.  The  president  of  the  university  shall 
be  ex-officio  member  of  the  executive  committee. 

Section  2. — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Auditing 
Committee  to  audit  the  accounts  of  the  ti'casurer. 

Section  3. — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive 
Committee  to  have  the  general  supervision  of  the 
University  and  the  business  of  the  Board  in  the 
interim  of  its  meetings,  and  to  make  report  thereof 
at  each  regular  meeting  of  the  Board. 


Article  V. 

This  constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended  by 
a  two  thirds  vote  of  all  the  members  of  the  Board 
present  at  any  regular  meeting. 


214 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


;i'^ 


.1  3, 


R 


In  connection  with  the  adoption  of  the  above  con- 
stitution, a  course  of  study,  which  had  been  thorough- 
ly digested  by  a  qualified  committee,  of  whom  Rev. 
r.  S.  Iloyt,  the  president  of  the  institution,  was  the 
chairman,  was  also  adopted,  and  the  collegiate  year 
was  divided  into  three  terms ;  and  it  was  further 
provided  that  the  course  of  instruction  should  extend 
through  four  years  in  the  College  proper,  and  three 
years  in  the  Preparatory  Department;  the  college 
years  to  be  designated  according  to  well-established 
usage  in  such  institutions,  by  the  names  of  Senior, 
Junior,  Sophomore,  and  Freshman. 

As  the  course  of  study  which  was  adopted  was 
subsequently  revised,  it  is  not  necessary  to  give  it  in 
detail  in  this  place.  It  may  be  proper  to  observe, 
however,  that  it  compared  well  in  its  comprehen- 
siveness with  that  of  older  and  more  mature  institu- 
tions in  the  Atlantic  States ;  and,  in  connection  with 
the  amended  constitution,  and  the  arrangements  in 
reference  to  the  proper  designation  of  the  collegiate 
years,  shows  the  advancement  of  our  cherished  school 
from  the  character  of  a  mere  primary  and  academ- 
ical institution,  to  the  position  and  characteristics  of 
a  real  college.  It  was  now  passing  from  its  chrysalis 
condition  into  a  new-fledged  university,  and  was 
preparing  to  plume  its  wings  for  an  upward  flight. 

In  the  progress  of  this  history  it  has  been  neces- 
sary frequently  to  revet  to  the  efforts  which  the 
Board  of  Trustees  was  putting  forth  to  create  an 
endowment  fund  by  the  sale  of  scholarships,  and 
otherwise;    and  here  we  shall  resuiiie   the  subject, 


m 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


215 


1,  and 
subject, 


and  present  in  one  view  the  Btruggles  of  the  Board 
in  relation  to  the  endowment  up  to  the  present 
time. 

The  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  still  in  possession  of  considerable  prop- 
erty in  Oregon  in  lands,  having  a  claim  on  the  land 
upon  which  the  city  of  Dalles  is  located,  and  also 
having  secured  a  title  to  land  to  the  extent  of  a 
quarter  section  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of  Salem. 

The  Missionary  Society  had  expended  an  immense 
amount  of  money  since  the  beginning  of  missionary 
operations  in  Oregon,  and  the  country  had  been 
vastly  benefited,  both  religiously  and  financially,  by 
such  expenditure,  and  it  was  proper  and  right  that 
the  lands  which  the  missionaries  had  occupied  should 
be  confirmed  to  the  Board. 

This  was  done  so  far  as  the  land  at  Salem  was 
concerned,  and,  as  this  land  lay  adjoining  the  univer- 
sity campus,  it  was  valuable  in  itself,  and  might  be 
used  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  university ; 
and  as  the  Board  of  Trustees  had  been  greatly  dis- 
appointed in  respect  to  their  original  claim,  it  was 
very  desirable  on  their  part  to  secure  this  land,  and 
use  it  to  the  best  advantage  for  the  enlargement  of 
the  endowment  fund  of  the  university. 

The  property  was  in  Oregon,  and  had  been  secured 
to  the  Missionary  Board  through  the  instrumefltality 
of  those  men  "who  counted  not  their  lives  dear  unto 
them  so  that  they  might  finish  the  ministry  committed 
to  their  hands ;  and  it  was  thought  by  all  that  the 
avails  of  that  property  should  be  appropriated  to  the 


J  ii 


216 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


ri: 


promotion  of  religion  and  science  in  Oregon  ;  and  if 
80,  that  it  could  not  be  employed  better  than  to  put 
it  into  the  hands  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Willamette 
University. 

The  subject  of  the  endowment  of  the  university 
was  one  of  the  deepest  possible  interest  to  the  state 
of  Oregon  and  the  Pacific  coast  generally,  and  con- 
sequently it  was  proper  for  the  Board  to  use  all  law- 
ful and  Christian  means  to  compass  so  desirable  an 
end.  Little,  however,  had  been  effected  previously  to 
1856,  but  at  that  time  the  Rev.  T.  H.  Pearne,  who  had 
been  elected  as  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference 
from  Oregon,  was  authorized  by  the  Board  of  Trustees 
to  make  application  in  the  Atlantic  States  for  aid  to- 
ward the  endowment  of  the  Willamette  Universitv. 
Mr.  Pearne  presented  the  subject  before  the  Mission- 
ary Society  in  New  York,  and  that  body  received  it 
with  their  usual  liberality,  and  proceeded  to  pass  the 
following  resolution : 

"  Resolved^  That  our  agent  in  Oregon  who,  for  the 
time  being,  may  hold  legal  power  from  the  Board  to 
act  for  it,  be  authorized  to  pay  over  to  the  Trustees 
of  the  Willamette  University  the  sum  of  five  thou- 
Band  dollars  toward  the  endowment  of  said  univer- 
sity out  of  any  moneys  in  his  hands  arising  out  of 
the  mission  property  in  Oregon  belonging  to  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church; 
^^Provided^  that  before  said  agent  shall  pay  over  as 
aforesaid,  the  Board  shall  be  informed  and  satisfied 
that  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  has  been 
invested  in  good  and  sufficient  and  productive  secu- 


I'  I 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


217 


rities,  other  than  simply  individual  liabilities,  said 
securities  to  be  free  from  all  claims  against  them,  and 
to  have  arisen  out  of  sources  not  heretofore  granted 
bj  this  Board,  but  from  other  and  different  sources." 

This  resolution  was  reported  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees  in  Oregon  in  September  of  1856,  and  was 
hailed  by  them  as  an  act  worthy  of  the  Missionary 
Board  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  it 
afforded  them  very  great  encouragement  in  their 
efforts  to  raise  funds  for  the  endowment  of  the 
university.  Prompted  by  the  necessities  of  our  in- 
stitution, and  this  generous  offer  of  the  Missionary 
Board  to  aid  us  in  its  endowment,  we  proceeded 
through  our  agent,  the  Rev.  A.  F.  Waller,  to  canvass 
the  country  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  funds 
requisite  to  entitle  the  Board  to  the  five  thousand 
dollars. 

The  principal  method  adopted  to  raise  the  fifteen 
thousand  dollars  was  the  sale  of  perpetual  schol- 
arshi])S  at  five  hundred  dollars  each,  though  other 
measures,  with  some  degree  of  success,  were  also 
employed.  It  was  found  to  be  a  very  difficult  matter 
in  the  sparsely  settled  and  undeveloped  state  of 
Oregon  to  raise  so  large  a  sum;  but  by  energetic 
and  unceasing  efforts  for  nearly  three  years,  it  was 
found  on  the  fifth  of  August,  1859,  that  the  whole 
amount  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  had  been  raised 
and  invested  in  good  securities.  So  soon  as  this  was 
ascertained  by  the  report  of  the  agent,  the  Board  of 
Trustees  passed,  in  substance,  the  following  preamble 
and  resolution : 


218 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


I 


"  Whereas  it  lias  been  understood  that  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
proposed  to  secure  to  the  Willamette  University  the 
sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  on  condition  that  said 
university  would  raise  the  sura  of  fifteen  thousand 
dollars ;  and  whereas  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  was  raised  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  August, 
1859,  therefore, 

"  Resolved.,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  cor- 
respond with  said  Missionary  Board,  and  secure  as 
soon  as  possible  the  said  five  thousand  dollars,  so  that 
it  may  be  funded,  and  the  interest  thereof  used  for 
the  support  of  said  university." 

Rev.  William  Roberts  was  appointed  that  com- 
mittee, and  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Missionary 
Board  informing  them  that  we  had  substantially  ful- 
filled the  condition  upon  our  part,  and  consequently 
were  ready  to  receive  the  five  thousand  dollars  accord- 
ing to  the  ofier  of  the  Missionary  Board. 

After  this  correspondence  several  years  passed  by, 
and  the  matter  remained  unadjusted  ;  but  at  the  ses- 
sion of  the  Oregon  Conference  held  in  Salem,  1864-, 
Rev.  T.  H.  Pearne,  who  was  the  authorized  agent  of 
the  Missionary  Board  in  Oregon,  informed  the  con- 
ference that  the  Board  proposed  to  convey  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Willamette  University  a  certain  piece 
or  parcel  of  land  lying  in  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  con- 
taining some  eighty  acres,  more  or  less,  in  lieu  of  the 
five  thousand  dollars  in  cash,  and  requested  the  con- 
ference to  take  action  upon  the  subject.  The  action 
of  the  conference  was  favorable  to  this  arrangement, 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


219 


'filffif? 


and  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  con- 
ference a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
was  called  to  take  into  consideration  the  proposition 
of  the  Missionary  Board.  At  this  meeting,  which 
was  held  August  20,  1864,  the  Board  of  Trustees 
passed  a  resolution  accepting  of  the  land  as  a  full 
satisfaction  for  the  five  thousand  dollars  in  cash. 

The  land  proposed  to  be  given  possessed  a  value 
which  would  justify  the  Missionary  Board  in  convey- 
ing it  and  the  Trustees  of  the  University  in  receiving 
it  as  an  equivalent  for  the  five  thousand  dollars.  The 
impression  had  gone  abroad  that  this  land  possessed 
an  immense  value  in  consequence  of  a  certain  water 
privilege  which  it  contained.  Tliis,  however,  was  an 
entire  mistake.  The  water  which  ran  through  the 
premises  in  a  ditch  which  had  been  excavated  for 
that  purpose,  did  not  belong  to  the  premises,  but  was 
the  property  of  the  Oregon  Milling  Company, 
subject  to  their  control,  and  liable  to  be  removed 
into  another  channel  at  their  option.  The  premises, 
therefore,  were  not  made  more  valuable,  but  rather 
injured  in  value  by  the  ditch  which  was  dug  through 
them.  Consequently,  in  conveying  that  land  to  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  the  Missionary  Board  would  not 
be  giving  more  than  was  first  proposed,  and  the 
Board  of  Trustees  would  receive  what  they  could 
ultimately  use  to  about  the  same  advantage  as  would 
have  resulted  from  the  investment  of  the  five  thousand 
dollars. 

There  arose  between  the  Missionary  Society  and 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  doubtless  more  from  a  mis- 


220 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


n 

Mr? 


apprehension  of  each  other's  views  and  intentions 
than  from  any  other  cause,  a  somewhat  protracted 
controversy  in  relation  to  this  business  operation, 
and,  consequently,  there  was  a  delay  of  the  final 
arrangement  until  the  present  year,  (186Y.)  Early  in 
this  year  the  Missionary  Board  through  their  sec- 
retary, W.  L.  Harris,  D.D.,  and  much  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  took  effectual 
measures  to  transfer  to  that  body,  by  a  good  and 
sufficient  deed,  the  said  tract  of  land,  comprising 
eighty  acres,  more  or  less,  in  lieu  of  the  five  thousand 
dollars.  This  transfer  was  eminently  wise  and  just 
upon  the  part  of  the  Missionary  Society,  first,  because 
the  property  thus  appropriated  becomes  a  permanent 
fund  for  the  accomplishment  of  good  to  the  end 
of  time ;  and  second,  by  a  reflex  influence  it  doubtless 
will  tend  directly  to  the  promotion  of  the  future 
interests  of  the  missionary  cause  by  returning  four- 
fold into  the  treasury  of  the  Missionary  Society ; 
third,  because  this  arrangement  becomes  the  occa- 
sion of  greatly  increasing  the  confidence  of  the 
public  in  our  institution,  and  will  contribute  greatly 
toward  relieving  the  Board  from  all  embarrassment 
arising  from  a  want  of  income,  and  open  the  way  for 
the  Willamette  University  finally  to  enter  upon  a 
career  of  great  usefulness  and  prosperity.  In  this 
connection  it  may  be  proper  to  observe,  that  while 
the  negotiation  between  the  two  Boards  was  going 
on,  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  laboring  faithfully 
and  constantly  for  the  maintenance  and  advance- 
ment of  their  beloved   institution,    and   tliey   had 


T'": 


II  I 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


221 


succeeded,  entirely  outside  of  all  sources  granted  to 
them  by  the  Missionary  Board,  in  raising  the  endow- 
ment fund  up  to  the  amount  of  twenty-four  thousand 
dollars,  nearly  all  of  which  was  amply  secured.  Be- 
sides this,  the  Board  of  Trustees  had  but  recently 
invested  in  real  estate,  in  the  form  of  a  splendid 
brick  edifice  located  on  their  college  campus,  which 
in  size  and  beauty  when  finished  would  do  honor  to 
any  state  in  the  Union,  the  sum  of  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars.  This  was  nearly  all  provided  for 
by  subscription,  and  the  entire  property,  amounting 
to  about  fifty  thousand  dollars,  was,  indeed,  free 
from  all  incumbrance.  This  amount  does  not  in- 
clude the  college  campus  of  sixty  acres,  nor  the 
lands  which  the  Board  received  in  their  settlement 
with  Dr.  "W".  H.  "Wilson,  the  value  of  which  it  would 
be  diflicult  at  this  time  to  determine ;  but  the  fact,  in 
itself  of  considerable  importance  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  which  here  should  be  clearly  exhibited,  is, 
that  at  the  time  the  Missionary  Board  made  the 
transfer  of  the  land  spoken  of,  the  Board  of  Trustees 
had  raised  and  invested  in  real  estate,  and  funded  as 
the  beginning  of  an  endowment,  from  the  resources 
of  the  country,  independent  of  any  and  every  thing 
that  had  ever  been  received  from  any  other  source, 
the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  To  accomplish 
this,  and  to  keep  the  building  which  we  were  erect- 
ing free  from  debt,  or  rather,  unembarrassed  with 
debt,  it  was  necessary  to  pull  upon  every  string  and 
to  move  with  great  precaution.  Also,  by  this  con- 
stant and  unusual  draft  upon  the   people  it  was 


1  '  ■ 


i'A 


M 


222 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


extreraelj  difficult  to  sustain  the  other  financial 
departments  of  the  university.  The  population  of 
Oregon  was  small,  the  people  were  poor,  and  money 
was  scarce,  and  the  Willamette  University  felt  the 
pressure  ;  and  the  bestowment  by  the  Missionary 
Board  of  the  eighty  acres  of  land  spoken  of,  fi-om  its 
present,  but  especially  from  its  prospective  value, 
was  indeed  a  godsend  to  our  cherished  institution, 
for  which  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  the  friends 
of  religious  education  generally  in  Oregon  cannot  be 
too  thankful. 

The  Missionarj'  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  the  Book  Concern  have,  under  God,  been 
the  greatest  benefactors  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  Aside 
from  that  part  of  the  coast  embraced  in  the  state  of 
California,  they  have  paid  in  cash  for  the  religious  and 
civil  benefit  of  the  country  within  the  limits  of  the 
Oregon  Conference,  since  the  first  missionaries  went 
there  in  1834,  not  less  than  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  Oregon  should  not  forget  her  benefactors ; 
and  the  friends  of  the  "Willamette  University  should 
remember  that  but  for  the  benevolence  of  the  Mission- 
ary Society,  and  the  interest  it  has  ever  taken  in  the 
advancement  of  the  Church  and  its  institutions,  the 
success  which  has  crowned  the  efibrt  to  establish  the 
institution  is  to  be,  in  part,  attributed  to  the  timely 
and  efficient  aid  which  that  society  has  afforded. 

It  seemed  proper  to  indulge  in  these  reflections 
while  considering  the  manner  in  which  the  un- 
pleasant controversy  between  the  two  Boards  in 
relation   to   the   five-thousand-dollar    donation    was 


t<  1 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


223 


closed  up.  Surely,  the  final  issue  was  of  such  a 
nature  as  that  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  uni- 
versity has  been  laid  under  lasting  obligation  to  the 
Missionary  Society  ;  while  at  the  same  time  they 
claim,  in  all  the  protracted  controversy,  to  have 
been  actuated  by  honesty  of  purpose,  and  a  sincere 
desire  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  humanity  in 
Oregon.  And  here  the  old  adage  may  be  properly 
inserted,  "  To  err  is  human  ;  to  forgive,  divine." 

Having  traced  the  history  of  the  five-thousand- 
dollar  donation  to  the  endowment  fund,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  revert  back  to  the  period  when  the 
Board  of  Trustees  considered  that  they  had  fulfilled 
the  condition  in  relation  to  the  fifteen  thousand 
dollars.  This  was  in  July  28,  1859.  At  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  held  at  this  time  it  was  ascer- 
tained from  the  report  of  Rev.  A.  F.  Waller,  who 
had  been  acting  as  agent  without  remuneration  for 
two  years,  that  the  endowment  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  embracing  the  five  thousand,  was  completed, 
and  it  was  resolved  forthwith  to  raise  an  additional 
endowment,  if  possible,  of  twenty  thousand,  and  a 
request  was  voted  to  the  next  annual  conference  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to  appoint  Rev.  A. 
F.  Waller  as  agent  of  the  university  for  the  ensuing 
year,  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  Board  in  reference 
to  the  endowment.  According  to  this  request  the 
bishop  presiding  at  the  ensuing  conference  appointed 
Rev.  A.  F.  Waller  agent,  and  he  continued  his 
efforts,  as  circumstances  would  permit,  to  enlarge  the 
endowment  fund  by  the  sale  of  scliolarsliips.     As  he 


^■..   >'\ 


224 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


had  already  tlioronglily  canvassed  tlio  ground  in 
raising  the  fifteen  thousand  dolhirs,  and  as  tlie  com- 
munity was  quite  limited,  and  the  people  of  wealtli 
few  and  far  between,  it  was  found,  after  years  of 
effort,  to  be  quite  impossible  to  raise  an  additional 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  A  few  thousand,  however, 
was  added  to  the  former  collections,  and  the  follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  the  names  of  all  the  persons  who,  by 
the  payment  of  five  hundred  dollars,  have  entitled 
themselves  to  perpetual  scholarships : 


■n" 


Francis  Flotcbor $500 

Rev.  C.  S.  Kiiigsley 500 

Rov.  T.  H.  Poame 500 

Hon.  Lansdalo 500 

Hon.  J.  S.  Smith 500 

Rev.  J.  L.  Parrisli 500 

Rev.  David  Leslie 500 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Wilson 1,000 

Rev.  Jason  Lee 600 

Hon.  L.  F.  Grover 600 

E.  Strong 500 

Rev.  A.  F.  Waller 500 

M.  Swcgle 500 

J.  N.  Gilbert 500 

Joseph  Waldo 500 

Joseph  Holman 500 

Rev.  J.  D.  Boon 500 

Thomas  Cross 500 

Rev.  Gustavus  nines 500 

Webley  Hauxhurst 500 

Hon.  J.  M.  Harrison 500 

W.  S.  Ladd 500 


Rev.  William  Roberta $500 

Rev.  J.  H.  Wilber 600 

Fletcher  Crabtreo 500 

W.  W.  M'Kinuey 500 

William  Odell 600 

Martin  Va\ighn 600 

W.  0.  Gibson 500 

George  Belknap 500 

Orrin  Bell<nap 600 

Ransom  Belknap 500 

M.  Swank 600 

lion.  Jeremiah  Lampson  . .  600 

Elias  Bnel 600 

James  M'Kaiu 500 

Mrs.  Jane  Armstrong 600 

Hon.  John  H.  Moors 600 

Abijah  Carey 600 

Hon.  Joseph  Lane 600 

Hon.  S.  Stout 600 

Hon.  E.  D.  Baker 600 

Rev.  L.  U.  Judson 500 


b^ 
se 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


225 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE   INTERNAL  niSTORY  OF  THE   UNIVERSITY. 

From  tho  imperfection  of  the  records  kept  during  a 
number  of  the  early  years  of  the  school's  history,  and 
tho  fact  that  some  of  the  records  have  been  lost,  it 
will  be  quite  difficult,  if  not  utterly  impossible,  to 
refer  to  the  names  of  all  who  have  taken  a  part  in  the 
internal  management  and  conduct  of  the  institution. 
I  now  refer  to  those  persons  who  have  been  employed 
in  the  very  responsible  positions  of  presidents,  pro- 
fessors, and  teachers  in  the  institution  from  the  be- 
ginning in  1844  up  to  the  present  time.  Some  of 
the  teachers  who  have  been  connected  with  the 
school  have  remained  but  a  very  short  time,  and 
considerable  teaching  has  been  done  during  some  of 
the  yearb  of  the  school's  history  in  the  lower  depart- 
ments by  persons  who  have  at  the  same  time  been 
pursuing  their  studies  in  the  higher  departments  of 
science.  If  the  names  of  any  who  have  been  regu- 
larly employed  as  teachers  in  any  department  shall 
be  omitted  in  this  chapter,  suith  omission  will  be  the 
result  of  the  absence  of  the  proper  data.  Some  of 
the  names  of  the  early  teachers  have  already  been 
mentioned  in  this  work ;  but  I  shall  run  the  hazard  of 
being  charged  with  repetition  for  the  purpose  of  pre- 
senting the  internal  history  of  the  school  in  one  con- 


226 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


I» 


nection.  The  patrons  of  the  Oregon  Institute  were 
very  fortunate  in  the  teacher  that  was  employed  to 
open  the  school.  Mrs.  Cliloe  E.  Wilson  has  the 
enviable  reputation  of  having  been  the  first  teacher 
in  the  Oregon  Institute.  The  school  was  opened 
August  16,  1844,  with  some  twenty  pupils.  These 
were  mostly  primaries,  as  up  to  this  period  but  slight 
opportuniiies  for  the  acquirement  of  even  the  funda- 
mental principles  of  education  had  existed.  Mrs. 
"Wilson  continued  in  the  school  as  the  only  te-'^cher 
for  two  years,  during  which  there  was  a  large  in- 
crease of  populati  :n,  and  a  corresponding  growth  of 
the  school.  In  the  spring  of  1846  the  number  of 
pupils  had  increased  to  sixty,  and  at  that  time  it  was 
found  necessary  to  employ  an  additional  teacher. 
Accordingly  Mr.  Hinman,  now  the  Hon.  Mr.  Ilin- 
man,  of  Washington  County,  was  employed  to  assist 
Mrs.  Wilson,  and  continued  in  the  institution  for  one 
year.  In  August,  1847,  Mr.  J.  S.  Smith,  now  the 
Hon.  J.  S.  Smith,  of  Salem,  and  a  most  active  and 
eflficient  member  of  the  present  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  University,  became  connected  with  the  school  as 
teacher,  and  remained  until  February,  1848,  when  he 
left  in  consequence  of  ill  health.  Mrs.  Wilson  re- 
mained the  principal  conductor  of  the  school  until 
1848,  when  the  names  of  Rev.  James  11.  Wilber  and 
hia  daughter  are  found  connected  with  the  institution. 
How  long  the  two  latter  taught  in  the  institution 
does  not  appear. 

Mr.  St.  J.  M.  Fackler,  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  who 
subsequently  married  tlie  daughter  of  Mr.  Wilber, 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


227 


but  now  deceased,  though  very  much  of  an  exclusive 
churchman,  favored  the  institution  for  a  short  period 
with  his  experience  as  a  teacher.  In  the  estimation 
of  many  it  was  thought  that  it  was  a  little  doubtful 
which  of  the  twain  commanded  most  of  the  attention 
of  the  reverend  gentleman,  the  school  itself,  or  the 
accomplished  daughter  of  Mr.  "Wilber.  Judging, 
however,  from  the  fact  that  so  soon  as  the  young 
lady  was  secured  Mr.  Fackler  ceased  his  connection 
with  the  institution,  it  is  natural  to  conclude  that  to 
win  this  inestimable  prize  was  the  principal  motive 
that  influenced  him  to  condescend  to  become  a  teacher 
in  the  Oregon  Institute.  I  do  not  intend  by  any 
means  to  cast  reflections  upon  Mr.  Fackler.  He  liad 
an  undoubted  right  to  use  all  lawful  and  religious 
means  to  procure  the  blessinpj  of  a  good  wife,  and 
having  accomplished  this  somewhat  difficult  task  in 
the  manner  above  indicated,  he  settled  in  Oregon, 
and  became  the  most  active  and  efficient  Episcopal 
clergyman  in  the  country.  Providence,  however,  did 
not  long  permit  him  to  cherish  the  prize  which  he 
had  won.  An  only  daughter,  and  a  fond  and  doting 
wife,  her  friends  wept  over  her  grave  in  the  church- 
yard in  the  city  of  Portland  ere  she  had  attained  her 
twentieth  year.  Mr.  Fackler  subsequently  married  a 
second  time ;  but  on  a  passage  from  Oregon  to  New 
York,  after  leaving  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  he  died, 
and  was  buried  at  sea. 

After  those  already  mentioned,  the  names  of  tho 
Rev.  M,  Eells  and  his  wife,  formerly  connected  with 
the  mission  in  the  Walla  "Walla  country,  established 


.ii  ! 


In 


228 


OKEaON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


by  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman  under  the  direction  of  the 
American  Board,  appear  among  the  teachers  of  the 
institute.  This  mission  vas  broken  up  by  the  Indian 
war  which  followe'1  li  e  'WJiitman  massacre,  whicli 
occurred  in  the  fall  <'  '  "•■  -  and  the  surviving  mem- 
bers were  scattered  o  oiaei  portions  of  the  country. 
Mr.  Eells  and  his  wife  four  d  employment  for  a  while 
as  teachers  in  the  Oregon  Institute,  where  they  ex- 
erted an  excellent  influence,  and  contributed  much 
while  they  remained  to  give  character  and  stability 
to  the  school.  The  precise  time  when  they  com- 
menced their  services  and  when  they  ceased  their 
connection  with  the  school  do  not  appear  upon  the 
records  ;  but  it  is  presumable  from  what  does  appear 
that  they  were  officiating  in  thf  winter  of  1849  and 
1850. 

At  the  second  session  of  ♦it  Ou  .L^cn  and  California 
Mission  Conference,  held  ai  Oregon  City  September 
4,  1850,  the  Eev.  F.  S.  Iloyt  au.  thf^  Rev.  Nehemiah 
Doane  were  appointed  as  teachers  in  the  Oregon  In- 
stitute. Mr.  Hoyt  had  received  his  appointment 
from  the  Eastern  States  to  Oregon  with  a  view  of 
taking  charge  of  the  Oregon  Institute  as  the  princi- 
pal whenever  he  should  arrive  in  the  country.  He 
had  not  yet  arrived,  a' '.  'Jr.  Doane  was  placed  in 
charge  until  Mr.  Hoyt  sImi  SI  reach  the  coast.  Mr. 
Doane  continued  in  the  ecliool  for  one  year,  Mrs. 
Df>an<5  at;  ii^t'ng  him  as  teacher  during  the  same  time. 
Tiiey  wcv  i  (Hciont  and  active,  and  gave  excellent 
satisfaction  to  the  ])atrons  of  the  school ;  but  it  was 
not  necessary  to  continue  both  Mr.  Iloyt  and  Mr. 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


229 


Doane  in  connection  with  the  school  at  the  "ame  time, 
consequently  the  latter  left  the  institution  for  other 
service,  and  Mr.  Hoyt,  after  his  arrival,  which  took 
place  late  in  1850,  took  charge  of  the  school  in  accord- 
ance with  the  design  of  his  appointment.  Mr.  Hoyt 
was  connected  with  the  institution  for  ten  years  as  pro- 
fessor and  president,  or  from  1850  to  1860,  his  reappoint- 
mentfrom  the  conference  having  been  annually'- request- 
ed by  the  Board  of  Trustees.  During  the  long  period 
of  Mr.  Iloyt's  service  as  the  principal  and  president  of 
the  institution  there  was,  with  the  exception  of  the 
president,  but  little  permanency  in  the  Board  of  In- 
struction. While  he  had  the  direction  of  the  school 
the  assistants  that  were  employed  under  him  were 
numerous,  and  a  particular  account  of  them  all  would 
extend  this  chapter  to  an  undue  length.  It  will  be 
sujfiicient  simply  to  insert  their  names  as  nearly  in  the 
order  in  whicli  they  served  the  institution  as  the  data 
which  we  have  in  our  possession  will  admit.  In  con- 
nection with  the  Primary  Department  the  following 
names  appear :  Miss  Belle  Walker,  now  Mrs.  Cook ; 
Mrs.  Dillon  ;  Miss  Mary  Leslie,  since  Mrs.  Jones, 
now  deceased ;  Miss  Julia  Bryant,  now  Mrs.  Terry ; 
Miss  Mary  Waller,  now  Mrs.  Hall ;  Miss  Sarelia 
Pringle,  now  Mrs.  Ncrthrup  ;  Mrs.  Wilson,  Mrs.  S. 
B.  Wilber,  Miss  Jordan,  Miss  Draper,  now  Mrs. 
Arthur  Nicklen,  and  Miss  S.  A.  Cornell. 

In  the  Academic  or  Preparatory  Department  dur- 
ing the  same  period  we  find  the  names  of  the  follow- 
ing persons :  Mr.  J.  Dillon,  Mrs.  Hoyt,  Mr.  C.  Hall 

as  Professor  of  Exact  Sciences,  Mr.  Newcomb,  Mr. 

15 


,  "r 


i     :< 


m 


1  ' 


If « 


230 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


D.  L.  Spaulding,  Mr.  S.  B.  Wilber,  Miss  Lucia  A. 
N.  Jordan,  Miss  L.  Boise,  Miss  Mary  Miller,  now 
Mrs.  Col.  Kelley,  Mr.  I.  L.  Powell,  Mr.  F.  D.  Hodg- 
son, Mr.  Barnard,  Mr.  Stinson,  Edwin  Ca*twriglit, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Wilson,  Mr.  F.  Grubbs,  and  Mrs. 
Thurston,  now  Mrs.  Wm.  Odell. 

Doubtless  there  were  other  persons  that  taught  in 
the  school  during  the  administration  of  Mr.  Iloyt, 
but  the  above-named  were  the  principal.  Through 
their  assistance  the  Oregon  Institute,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Mr.  Hoyt,  moved  on  slowly  but  surely 
in  the  path  of  improvement,  from  the  character  of  a 
primary  to  that  of  a  well-developed  academical  and 
preparatory  school,  and  had  already  begun  to  as- 
sume many  of  the  airs  of  even  a  collegiate  institution. 
At  the  session  of  the  Oregon  Annual  Conference, 
held  at  Albany  in  August,  1859,  President  Hoyt  was 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  was  to  be  held 
the  following  May  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  in  the  state 
of  New  York.  Consequently  I  find  in  the  records 
of  the  Board  under  date  of  October  19,  1859,  this 
action  :  "  On  motion,  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Hoyt  be 
allowed  leave  of  absence  to  visit  the  Eastern  States, 
and  that  his  salary  be  continued  without  intermission 
during  his  absence." 

This  action  of  the  Board  was  with  the  expectation 
that  Mr.  Hoyt,  after  having  discharged  his  obliga- 
tions as  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference,  and 
availed  himself,  by  visiting  colleges  and  other  insti- 
tutions of  learning,  of  tlie  more  recent  improvements 


nfn 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


231 


and  facilities  for  tlie  conduct  and  management  of 
such  institutions,  would  return  again  to  Oregon  and 
resume  his  position  as  president  of  the  Willamette 
University.  In  this,  however,  the  Board  was  doomed 
to  disappointment.  Mr.  Waller,  who  was  the  col- 
league of  Mr.  Hoyt  to  the  General  Conference,  had 
returned,  and  in  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  at 
Salem,  August  18,  1860,  gave  the  information  that 
President  Hoyt  had  made  application  for  a  situation 
in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University ;  but  as  no  oflScial 
communication  had  been  received  from  him  by  the 
Board  no  action  was  taken  at  this  time.  At  a  meet- 
ing, however,  held  Sept.  26,  1860,  the  president  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  Rev.  David  Leslie,  presented 
a  letter  from  Rev.  F.  S.  Hoyt,  resigning  his  situation 
as  president  of  the  Willamette  University,  which  was 
read,  and,  on  motion,  the  resignation  was  accepted. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  then 
read  and  adopted :  '-■     - 

Whereas  the  Rev.  F.  S.  Hoyt  has  resigned  his 
position  as  president  of  the  Willamette  University 
in  order  to  return  with  his  family  to  the  Atlantic 
States;  therefore,  ' 

Besolved,  That  after  an  intercourse  of  nearly  ten 
years,  during  which  time  he  has  had  charge  of  this 
institution,  we  have  learned  very  highly  to  appre- 
ciate the  capabilities  of  Rev.  F.  S.  Hoyt  as  an  in- 
structor of  youth,  a  Christian  gentleman,  and  fellow- 
laborer  in  the  cause  of  education. 

jResolved,  That  while  we  ]^art  with  himself  and 
family  with  regret,  we  learn  with  pleasure  that  he 


a 


232 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


i    ^.      i' 


Las  become  connected  with  an  eminent  institution 
of  learning  in  Ohio,  and  that  we  follow  him  with  our 
most  ardent  wishes  for  success. 

liesolved,  That  we  cherish  a  most  grateful  recol- 
lection of  the  peace  and  harmony  with  which  our 
mutual  labors  with  our  beloved  brother  have  been 
characterized,  and  shall  richly  enjoy  such  correspond- 
ence in  the  future  as  the  duties  of  his  new  relation 
may  permit. 

Thus  terminated  the  long  and  onerous  term  of 
service  of  Rev.  F.  S.  Hoyt,  as  principal  of  the 
Oregon  Institute,  and  president  of  the  Willamette 
University.  Before  taking  leave  of  him  after  having 
so  faithfully  conducted  the  growing  institution  in  the 
midst  of  many  discouragements,  arising  as  well  from 
its  poverty  as  from  the  heterogeneous  character  of  its 
patrons  and  students,  for  ten  long  years,  it  will  be 
proper  here  to  accord  to  him  the  meed  of  praise 
which  is  justly  liis  due.  As  a  teacher,  inside  the 
walls  of  the  Institute,  he  was  decidedly  popular  and 
efficient,  gaining  not  only  the  good-will  and  affection 
of  the  students  generally,  but  also  their  highest  re- 
spect. "With  the  Board  of  Trustees  his  course  was 
characterized  by  kindness,  affability,  a  high  respect 
for  their  judgment  and  authority,  and  a  manifest 
disposition  to  carry  out  faithfully  the  instructions 
which  from  time  to  time  they  thought  proper  to 
communicate.  This  rendered  him  popular  with  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  while  his  character  as  a  gentle- 
man, a  Christian,  and  a  minister  was  such  as  to  en- 
title him  to  the  high  consideration  of  the  public 


W ' 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


233 


tion 
.  our 

ecol- 
L  our 
been 
pond- 
Lation 

rin  of 
3f  the 
imette 
baving 
in  tlie 
11  from 
jr  of  it3 
will  be 
'  praise 
iide  the 
liar  and 
iffection 
rbest  re- 
use was 
L  respect 
manifest 
tractions 
>roper  to 
with  tlie 
a  gentle- 
as  to  en- 


le 


public 


generally  where  he  was  known.  Before  entering 
upon  his  labors  in  connection  with  the  Ohio  Wes- 
ley an  University,  he  returned  to  Oregon,  disposed  of 
his  property,  took  leave  of  his  friends,  of  whom  he 
had  many,  and  bade  adieu  to  the  scenes  of  his  early 
toil  on  the  Pacific  shores,  and  returned  to  the  East, 
where  it  is  hoped  that  his  labor  will  be  vastly 
lighter,  his  usefulness  more  extended,  and  his  eu  v'lu- 
ments  and  honors  much  greater  than  any  that  he 
could  have  secured  in  the  Western  world.  He  now, 
1.867,  occupies  the  chair  of  theology  in  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University,  having  been  connected  with 
that  institution  since  he  left  Oregon. 

On  the  3d  of  August,  1860,  the  Board  received  in- 
formation through  Hon.  J.  S.  Smith  that  Professor 
T.  M.  Gatch,  who  had  been  teaching  in  Washington 
TeiTitory,  and  who  was  previously  connected  with  a 
college  in  California,  had,  in  answer  to  a  proposition 
made  to  him  some  time  before,  indicated  to  him  his 
willingness  to  be  employed  as  a  professor  in  the 
University,  and  consequently  the  Board  proceeded 
at  once  to  elect  T.  M.  Gatch  Professor  of  Ancient 
Languages  and  Moral  Science.  This  was  before 
word  was  received  that  Mr.  Hoyt  had  severed  his 
connection  with  the  institution.  So  soon  as  this  in- 
formation was  given,  at  a  special  meeting  of  the 
Board  held  Sept.  26,  1860,  it  was  resolved  that 
Professor  T.  M.  Gatch  be  constituted  the  acting 
president  of  the  institution  until  a  president  shall 
be  duly  elected.  Measures  were  taken  also  to  hold 
correspondence  with  various  persons  on  the  subject 


'    n 


234 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


m 


i> 


of  the  presidency,  preparatory  to  an  election  at  tlie 
next  meeting.  This  was  held  October  3,  1860,  and 
the  correspondence  reported  that  they  had  had  the 
subject  under  careful  consideration,  and  recommended 
the  immediate  election  of  a  president.  Whereupon 
the  Board  proceeded  to  ballot,  and  the  Eev.  Wm.  J. 
Maclay  was  unanimously  elected  president  of  the 
Willamette  University.  The  secretary  of  the  Board, 
Kev.  Wm.  Eoberts,  was  instructed  to  inform  Mr. 
Maclay  of  his  election,  which  accordingly  he  did,  and 
on  Dec.  5,  1860,  the  Board  was  informed  that  Mr. 
Maclay  declined  to  accept  of  the  presidency  of  the 
institution.  Immediately  upon  this,  Professor  T.  M. 
Gatch  was  placed  upon  nomination,  and  having  re- 
ceived the  vote  of  every  member  present,  twenty-two 
in  all,  he  was  declared  duly  elected  president  of  the 
Willamette  University.  Mr.  Hoyt,  who  had  not  left 
the  country,  was  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  on 
Mr.  Gatch  and  inform  him  of  his  election,  and  ask 
him  to  signify  his  acceptance.  Being  assured  that 
the  election  was  unanimous,  Mr.  Gatch  signified  his 
acceptance,  and  Mr.  Hoyt  had  the  pleasure  of  placing 
one  well  qualified  to  fill  it  in  the  chair  which  he  had 
vacated  by  a  voluntary  resignation. 

Various  changes  had  occurred  from  year  to  year 
in  the  membership  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  but  it  is 
not  necessary  to  speak  of  these  particularly.  At  the 
time,  however,  of  the  election  of  Mr.  Gatch  to  the 
presidency  of  the  institution  the  classes  stood  as 
follows: 


Tr  'f. 


W  ' 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


236 


t  tlie 
,  and 
i  the 
siided 
mpon 
m.  J. 
if  the 
5oard, 
a  Mr. 
d,  and 
Eit  Mr, 
of  the 
•  T.  M. 
ing  re- 
ity-two 
,  of  the 
not  left 
svait  on 
uid  ask 
-ed  that 
liied  hiB 
'  placing 
1  he  had 

to  year 

but  it  is 

At  the 

ih  to  the 

Btood  as 


THUSTEES  ELECTED  IN  1858. 

"Wm.  Eoberts,  C.  S.  Kingsley,  Thos.  Cross,  W. 
Ilanxhnrst,  L.  F.  Grover,  D.  Leslie,  Geo.  Aber- 
netliy,  Geo.  H.  Jones,  J.  S.  Smith,  John  Ford,  J.  R. 
Moores,  A.  M.  Bett,  F.  R.  Smith. 

TRUSTEES  ELECTED  IN   1859. 

J.  D.  Boon,  J.  H.  Wilber,  J.  Lamson,  J.  II. 
Moores,  J.  L.  Parrish,  T.  H.  Pearne,  J.  M.  Garrison, 
A.  W.  Ferguson,  H.  K.  Hines,  H.  Gordon,  W.  H. 
Odell,  J.  Watt,  I.  N.  Gilbert,  J.  H.  Nicklin,  J.  M. 
Harrison,  A.  C.  Gibbs,  A.  S.  Abernethy. 

TRUSTEES  ELECTED  IN  I860. 

A.  F.  Waller,  G.  Hines,  F.  S.  Iloyt,  E.  Strong, 
Jos.  Holman,  E.  N.  Cook,  G.  H.  Williams,  C.  JST. 
Terry,  E.  N.  Barnum,  Charles  Craft,  Daniel  Waldo. 

The  officers  of  the  Board  elected  at  the  previous 
annual  meeting  were  as  follows :  David  Leslie, 
president;  John  H.  Moores,  vice-president;  Wm. 
Roberts,  secretary;   Geo.  II.  Jones,  treasurer. 

L.  F.  Grover,  C.  N.  Terry,  A.  F.  Waller,  J.  II. 
Moores,  J.  S.  Smith,  F.  S.  Hoyt,  and  Gustavus  Ilines, 
executive  committee;  J.  R.  Moors,  C.  N.  Terry, 
and  J.  S.  Smith,  auditing  committee. 

Sustained  by  this  array  of  ability  on  the  part  of 
the  Board,  every  member  of  which  seemed  to  feel  a 
deep  interest  for  the  advancement  of  the  institution, 
Mr.  Gatch  applied  himself  to  his  responsible  task 


'.''t  /         t;;,  ! 


Ih 


h 


.1  I 


i'  I     4 


236 


.OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


with  great  tact  and  energy,  whicli  seemed  to  extend 
into  every  department  of  the  school,  giving  it,  as  it 
were,  new  life  and  vigor,  and  causing  it  to  exhibit 
satisfactory  evidences  of  real  prosperity.  "    ' 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  February  20, 1861, 
Mr.  Gatch  made  a  statement  in  regard  to  the  school, 
in  which  it  appeared  that  it  was  more  full  than  ever 
known  at  any  corresponding  season  of  the  year.  Mr. 
Gatch  himself,  during  the  quarter,  had  taught  twelve 
classes,  and  the  necessity  of  assistance  in  the  Board 
of  Instruction  was  obvious,  and  measures  were  taken 
to  procure  such  assistance. 

The  Board  of  Instruction  at  this  time  consisted  of 
the  following  persons :  T.  M.  Gatch,  L.  S.  Dyer,  F. 
H.  Grubbs,  Mary  Millar,  Lucia  A.N.  Jordan.  Dur- 
ing the  year  "William  E.  Barnard  was  added  to  the 
list  of  teachers,  by  an  election  to  the  chair  of  math- 
ematics, and  also  Mrs.  J.  G.  Wilson  was  employed 
for  one  term.  Mr.  L.  J.  Powell  was  elected  teacher 
in  the  school,  November  20,  1861,  to  perform  such 
duties  as  might  be  assigned  him  by  the  president, 
and  being  informed  of  his  election,  he  at  once  came 
forward  and  entered  upon  his  work.  There  were 
other  teachers  employed  during  this  collegiate  year, 
80  that  at  the  close  in  July,  1862,  the  following  per- 
sons were  found  to  have  rendered  service  some  por- 
tion of  the  year  :  T.  M.  Gatch,  William  E.  Barnard, 
L.  J.  Powell,  F.  H.  Grubbs,  T.  H.  Crawford,  Mary 
Millar,  Lizzie  Boise,  L.  Draper. 

By  a  vote  of  the  Board,  August  19,  1862,  Mr.  L.  J. 
Powell  \7as  promoted  ^r,  the  chair  of  mathematics, 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


237 


heretofore  occupied  by  W.  E.  Barnard,  who  liad  re- 
signed his  place,  and  J.  A.  B.  Stinson  was  elected  a 
teacher  under  the  direction  of  the  president.  With 
these  changes  in  the  Board  of  Instruction,  the  first 
three  years  of  Mr.  Gatch's  administration  passed  away 
harmoniously  and  prosperously ;  but  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Board,  which  was  held  at  tlie  chapel  January  17, 
1863,  the  president  presented  the  following  paper: 

"Kev.  David  Leslie,  President  op  the  Board  of 

Trustees  of  Willamette  University. 
"Dear  Sir:  I  hereby  resign  the  presidency  of  the 
Willamette  University.  Permit  me  through  you  to 
return  my  sincere  thanks  to  the  honorable  Board 
of  Trustees,  for  their  hearty  co-operation  in  every- 
thing that  has  pertained  to  the  successful  manage- 
ment of  the  school,  and  let  me  express  the  hope  that 
the  confidence  reposed  in  me  has  not  been  entirely 
misplaced.  With  the  assurance  that  I  earnestly 
desire  the  prosperity  of  the  university,  I  subscribe 
myself. 

Yours,  respectfully,  T.  M.  Gatch." 

The  Board  received  this  announcement  with  deep 
regret,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  pass  the  following 
preamble  and  resolutions : 

"Whereas  President  Gatch  has  tendered  to  this 
Board  his  resignation  of  the  office  of  president ; 
and  whereas  his  administration  has  been  entirely 
successful,  having  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the 
community,  the  affection  of  the  students,  and   the 


,  I 


il 


238 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


%v 


unqualified   approbation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees ; 
therefore, 

"  Resolved^  1.  That  the  Trustees  liave  received  the 
cotnmunication  of  President  Gatcli  witli  feelin<:58  of 
profound  regret.  That  during  his  continuance  in 
office  he  lias  showed  himself  eminently  fitted  for  the 
trust  reposed  in  him  at  his  election  by  the  unanimous 
vote  of  this  Board.       . 

"  2.  That  it  wo  be  very  gratifying  to  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Bo«,.  ^  and  in  their  judgment  highly 
promotive  of  the  best  interests  of  the  university,  if  ho 
would  consent  to  withdraw  his  resignation,  and  con- 
tinue his  past  relation  to  the  school. 

"  3.  That  if  he  cannot,  consistently  with  his  inter- 
ests or  views  of  duty,  consent  to  remain  permanently 
at  the  head  of  the  university,  he  be  requested  to 
continue  to  perform  the  duties  of  president  thereof 
as  long  as  he  conveniently  can,  and,  if  possible,  until 
the  close  of  the  collegiate  year." 

A  copy  of  the  above  resolutions  was  put  into  the 
hands  of  President  Gatch,  and  resulted  much  to  the 
gratification  of  all  the  friends  of  the  institution,  in  his 
withdrawal  of  the  act  of  resignation,  and  continuing 
the  president  of  tlie  school. 

Favored  with  the  supervision  of  an  excellent  pres- 
ident, and  a  corps  of  teachers  that  were  disposed  to 
labor  with  him  in  perfect  unison,  the  school  pro- 
gressed satisfactorily  to  all  concerned  through  the 
collegiate  year,  terminating  July  14,  1863,  with  but 
little  change  in  the  personnel  employed,  save  the 
addition  of  a  few  new  names  to  the  list  of  teachers. 


J  .1 

■■   I  \: 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


239 


.  In  tliG  third  quarter  of  this  year,  May  20, 1863,  the 
name  of  Lucy  A.  M.  Lee,  still  a  student  in  the  school, 
first  appears  among  the  teachers  for  half  time.  Miss 
Samantha  Cornell  was  also  employed  to  enter  the 
Primary  Department  at  a  future  time.  Mr.  John 
W.  Johnson  was  elected  as  a  teacher,  but  never  con- 
nected himself  with  the  institution. 

The  faculty  at  this  date  stood  as  follows :  T.  M. 
Gatch,  president;  L.  J.  Powell,  professor;  W.  E. 
Barnard,  academical  department;  Mary  B.  Mil- 
lar, preparatory  and  French ;  LucY  A.  M.  Lee,  as- 
sistant ;  Mrs.  Belle  Cook,  primary  department. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  July  16,  a  slight  change 
appears  in  the  list  of  teachers,  but  no  names  that 
have  not  already  been  mentioned.  Thomas  H.  Craw- 
ford is  added  to  the  list,  and  Samantha  A.  Cornell 
takes  the  place  of  Mrs.  Belle  Cook. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  the  twenty-first 
since  the  school  was  founded,  and  the  thirteenth  since 
it  became  a  chartered  university,  was  held  in  the 
chapel  of  the  Institute,  July  14,  1863. 

The  oflicers  of  the  Board  elected  for  the  ensuing 
year  were:  David  Leslie,  president;  Chester  N. 
Terry,  secretary ;  E.  N.  Cook,  treasurer ;  John  H. 
MooRES,  J.  S.  Smith,  A.  F.  Waller,  Thomas  Cross, 
T.  M.  Gatch,  Gustavus  Hines,  J.  L.  Parrish,  ex- 
ecutive committee ;  J.  C.  Peebles,  Elisha  Strong, 
J.  R.  RoBB,  auditing  committee. 

The  faculty  underwent  a  slight  change,  as  will 
appear  from  the  following  action  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees : 


m. 


1 

:■. 

"l 

,1 

..X 

U^ 

Ill' 


;!• 


I 


240 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


"  Resolved^  That  the  Board  of  Instruction  fur  the 
ensuing  year  consist  of  the  fol hawing  persons,  and  that 
we  agree  to  pav  them  the  following  rates  of  salary  : 
T.  M.  Gatch,  $1,200;  Lucy  A.  M.  Lee,  $500;  L.  J, 
Powell,  $1,000 ;  Samantha  A.  Cornell,  $500. 

And  it  was  also  ordered  that  the  Exuiutive 
Committee  be  empowered  to  employ  any  additional 
teachers  that  might  be  needed. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  at  this  meeting,  which  was 
well  attended,  there  being  some  twenty  member?  pres- 
ent, was  very  highly  gratified  and  encouraged  by  the 
evidences  of  the  growing  prosperity  of  the  institution 
which  appeared  before  them.  A  number  of  the  old 
trustees  who  witnessed  the  struggles  of  the  school  for 
existence  in  its  earliest  infancy,  and  had  watched  it 
with  the  most  earnest  solicitude  at  every  step  of  its 
history,  were  present,  and  what  they  were  now  per- 
mitted to  behold  was  to  them  exceedingly  satisfactory 
and  cheering.  Previously  to  this,  though  there  had 
many  persons  left  the  school  who  had  received  a 
thorough  education  in  English  science  and  literature, 
yet  there  had  but  two  persons  regularly  graduated, 
after  having  entitled  themselves  I'o  the  honors  of 
the  institution  by  completing  the  whole  course  of 
study. 

The  first  graduate  was  Emily  J.  York,  in  1850, 
who,  having  finished  the  course  prescribed  for  young 
ladies,  was  constituted  Mistress  of  English  Literature. 

The  second  was  Addie  B.  Looey,  who  received 
similar  honors  in  1862.* 

*  Deceased. 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


241 


At  the  present  meeting  of  tlie  Board,  however,  the 
president  of  the  university,  T.  M.  Gatch,  made  a 
communication  which  showed  that  the  harvest  time 
of  the  institution  had  abeady  come,  when  the  labor- 
ers were  to  re  -  the  fruits  of  their  exertions. 

The  communis ition  was  as  follows : 


"  To   THE  Honorable   Board   of   Trustees   of 

Willamette  University. 
*'  Gentlemen  :  The  following  young  men  Lave 
completed  the  full  classical  course  of  study  in  the 
university:  Thomas  H.  Crawford,  Francis  H.  Grubbs, 
and  J.  C.  Grubbs,  and  the  same  are  hereby  recom- 
mended as  entitled  to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts, 
and  Latin  diplomas  certifying  to  their  attainments. 

"  Emily  N.  Belt,  Margaretta  Grubbs,  Lucy  A.  M. 
Lee,  Mary  M'Ghee,  Angeline  Robb,  and  Nelly  Stipp 
have  completed  the  course  prescribed  for  young  ladies, 
and  Colon  T,  Finlayson,  Alva  M'Wharter,  and  John 
B.  Waldo  have  completed  the  English  branches  laid 
do '/n  in  the  course,  and  it  is  recommended  that  a 
f  uitable  diploma  be  furnished  each. 

"  Respectfully  submitted,  T.  M.  Gatch, 

"  President  Willamette  University. 

^'July  14,  1863." 

The  Board  carried  out  the  recommendation  of  the 
president,  and  the  appropriate  degrees  were  conferred 
upon  this  interesting  class  of  twelve  young  persons, 
the  legitimate  fruits  of  our  toils  in  sustaining  the  now 
rising  institution.     On  the  follovvlng  day  after  this 


I 


li 


242 


OREGON  AND  ITS  IIS  STITUTIONS. 


action  of  the  Board  the  large  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Salem,  beautifully  and  appropriately  dec- 
orated with  festoons  and  mottoes  of  evergreens,  and 
hung  with  the  national  banner,  the  red,  white,  and 
blue,  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity  with  the  popu- 
lation of  the  town  and  visitors  from  the  surrounding 
country  to  witness  what  was  never  seen  before  on  the 
Pacific  shores,  but  what  is  doubtless  hereafter  often 
to  be  witnessed — a  large,  respectable,  and  thoroughly 
educated  class  of  young  gentlemen  and  ladies  pub- 
licly receiving  the  honors  to  which  they  had  entitled 
themselves  by  their  industry  and  perseverance,  and 
then  to  take  their  affectionate  leave  of  each  other,  of 
their  long  cherished  friends  and  teachers,  and  of  their 
young  alma  mater,  and  go  forth  to  take  upon  themselves 
the  responsibilities  of  life  for  which,  by  long  years  of 
faithful  study  and  training,  they  had  endeavored  to 
qualify  themselves.  The  orations  of  the  young  men, 
and  the  essays  of  the  young  ladies  on  this  occasion 
were  truly  of  an  elevated  character,  and  did  great 
credit  to  their  respective  authors,  reflecting  much  honor 
also  upon  the  faculty  of  instruction.  Indeed  all 
present  to  witness  these  commencement  exercises, 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  the  patrons  and  spectators, 
were  all  impressed  with  the  great  importance  and 
immense  value  of  the  institution  which  was  now  be- 
ginning fully  to  develop  its  capabilities  of  n  Jtting 
the  educational  demands  of  the  community,  and 
thereby  of  becoming  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the 
rising  country. 

The  Board  of  Instruction  for  the  collegiate  year 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


243 


great 
lonor 
sed  all 
ircises, 
tators, 
and 
ow  be- 
jtting 
,   and 
to  the 

;e  year 


commencing  September,  1863,  was  changed  only  by 
the  addition,  by  the  election  by  the  trustees,  of  Francis 
H.  Grubbs,  to  take  charge  of  the  Academical  Depart- 
ment.    The  faculty  stood  as  follows : 

T.  M.  Gatch,  President  of  Faculty,  and  Teacher 
of  Ancient  Languages;  L.  J.  Powell,  Teacher  of 
Mathematics  and  Natural  Science ;  Lucy  A.  Lee, 
Teacher  of  French  and  English  Composition  ;  Fran- 
cis H.  Grubbs,  Academical  Department ;  Samantha 
A.  Cornell,  Primary  Department ;  Louisa  Bray- 
man,  Music  Teacher. 

The  Board  of  Teachers  during  this  year  assumed  a 
little  more  permanency  than  formerly,  there  being 

wer  changes  called  for  on  account  of  the  transient 
character  of  the  material  tiaployed.  This  is  in  part 
accounted  for  from  the  fact  that  the  school  itself, 
through  its  thoronghlj  trained  graduates,  was  now 
providing  for  its  own  wa  ts  as  well  as  those  of 
the  country  at  large  This  corps  of  teachers  oper- 
ated in  great  harniuny,  as  a  general  rule,  both  in 
their  teaching  and  in  the  discipline  which  they  exer- 
cised over  their  respect!  ,  departments.  There  was, 
however,  during  the  •  ard  quarter  of  this  year  a  mat- 
ter of  discipline  which  it  may  be  proper  and  useful  to 
relacc.  A  meeting  of  the  Board  was  called,  at  the 
instance  of  Mr.  Gatch,  to  decide  a  case  of  discipline 
in  relation  to  one  of  the  students,  concerning  which 
there  was  a  difference  of  opinion  between  him  and 
Professor  Powell.  It  appears  that  Professor  Powell 
had  dismissed  a  student  from  his  department  for  some 
misdemeanor,  and  that  President  Gatch  had  received 


\  ■ 


15       iff?  V.tii 


244 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Lira  back,  so  far  as  bis  department  was  concerned,  to 
recite  Latin  and  Frencb,  wbich  were  not  taugbt  in 
Professor  Powell's  department.  Professor  Powell 
tbouglit  that  tbe  president  ougbt  not  to  have  received 
bim  back  to  tbose  classes  until  be  bad  made  tbe  satis- 
faction required.  Tbe  matter  elicited  considerable 
discussion,  and,  as  a  result,  a  resolution  was  pre- 
sented wbicb  embodied  tbe  views  entertained  by  tbe 
Board :  tbat  we  consider  tbe  discipline  of  Professor 
Powell  in  tbe  case  of  tbe  student  in  question  to  have 
been  correct,  and  therefore  should  be  sustained  ;  and 
tbat  as  neither  be  nor  President  Gatcb  understood 
that  bis  dismission  from  Professor  Powell's  depart- 
ment was  an  expulsion  from  tbe  school,  tbat  there- 
fore tbe  act  of  President  Gatcb  in  allowing  the  stu- 
dent to  recite  Latin  and  Frencb  in  other  departments 
was  also  correct.  Entertaining  these  views,  the  Board 
passed  a  resolution  sustaining  tbe  course  of  President 
Gatcb. 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Wilson,  during  the  first  part  of  this 
year,  made  arrangements  for  tbe  accommodation  in 
her  commodious  bouse  of  a  number  of  young  ladies 
both  with  rooms  and  board  for  tbe  benefit  of  tbe 
school.  This  arrangement  was  advertised  in  the 
papers,  and  resulted  in  the  collection  of  several 
young  ladies  at  Mrs.  Wilson's.  To  enable  her  to 
exercise  a  proper  discipline  and  control  over  these 
young  ladies  she  was,  at  Mr.  Gatch's  instance,  at  the 
close  of  tbe  third  quarter,  appointed  governess  of  the 
Ladies'  Department  of  the  university. 

The  school  moved  on  without  anything  occurring 


OKEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


245 


of  special  interest  in  its  internal  character,  except 
that  it  was  cliaracterized  by  general  prosperity,  until 
the  close  of  the  collegiate  year,  when,  at  the  annual 
meeting,  held  July  19,  1864,  President  Gatch  pre- 
sented the  following  communication : 


f  this 

don  ill 
ladies 
of  the 
111  the 
several 
her  to 
these 
at  the 
of  the 


"  To   THE   Honorable   Board   of   Trustees   of 

Willamette  University. 
"  Gentlemen  :  Charles  W.  Parrish  and  Sylvester 
C.  Simpson  have  completed  the  full  classical  course 
of  the  university ;  Eliza  A.  Cross,  Anna  R.  Robb, 
Clara  A.  Watt,  and  Pauline  Whitson  have  com- 
pleted the  course  prescribed  for  young  ladies.  Jo- 
seph P.  Jones  has  completed  the  English  studies  of 
the  institution.  As  all  these  have  passed  satisfactory 
examinations,  it  is  recommended  that  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  Artium  be  conferred  on  Mr.  Parrish  and 
Mr.  Simpson,  and  that  suitable  diplomas  be  granted 
to  all  herein  mentioned. 


"  Eespectfully  submitted, 


T.  M.  Gatch, 


"  Pres.  of  Faculty^  and  Teacher  of  Anc.  Lang. 

"  L.  J.  Powell, 
"  Teacher  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Science. 

"  Lucy  A.  M.  Lee, 
"  Teacher  of  French  and  English  Composition.^'' 

Diplomas  were  awarded  to  each  of  the  persons 

recommended  by  the  president,  and  on  the  day  of 

public  commencement  they  acquitted  themselves  in 

their  orations  and  essays  with  equal  honor  with  the 

class  of  the  ]>revious  year,  and  with  corresponding 

10 


246 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


credit  to  the  institution  that  had  nurtured  them. 
The  Faculty  of  Instruction  for  the  collegiate  year 
commencing  September,  1864,  was  the  same  as  the 
previous  year.  Prosperity  crowned  the  efforts  of 
both  the  faculty  and  trustees  during  the  year,  and  at 
its  close,  July  18,  1865,  the  Board  were  gratified  to 
receive  from  the  Faculty  of  Instruction  the  following 
communication:  ....     ..  .  .    - 

"  Gentlemen  :  Presley  M.  Denny  and  Parrish  L. 
Willis  have  completed  the  full  classical  course  of 
study,  and  are  hereby  recommended  to  the  Board  as 
qualified  to  receive  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts. 
Charles  W.  Kahlor  has  completed  the  English  course, 
Janette  M'Calley  and  Frances  "Wilson  have  com- 
pleted the  course  prescribed  for  young  ladies.  All 
these,  having  passed  satisfactory  examinations,  are 
recommended  as  entitled  to  the  honors  of  gradu- 
ation." 


'I' 
111 


Hi, 


Accordingly  the  Board  conferred  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  upon  Presley  M.  Denny  and  Parrish  L.  Willis, 
and  of  B.  S.  upon  Charles  W.  Kahlor,  and  of  M.  E. 
L.  upon  Janette  M'Calley  and  Frances  A.  Wilson. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  which  was 
held  July  26,  1865,  Mr.  Gatch,  after  five  years  of 
most  acceptable  and  efiicient  service  as  president  of 
the  university,  resigned  his  position,  and  as  it  was 
evident  that  he  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  recall 
his  act,  as  in  the  former  instance,  his  resignation  was 
accepted,  with  many  thanks  for  the  services  which 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


247 


lem. 
year 
}  tlie 
ts  of 
nd  at 
ed  to 
3  wing 


■isli  L. 
irse  of 
lard  as 
f  Arts. 
course, 
e  com- 
8.    All 
ns,  are 
gradu- 


gree  of 
Willis, 
f  M.  E. 
ilson. 
jell  was 


^ears 


of 

^ident  of 

it  was 

Ito  recall 

Ition  was 

ks  wliicb 


he  had  rendered  the  institution,  and  regrets  that  we 
were  losing  the  same.  After  Mr.  Gatch  had  taken 
leave  of  the  school,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held 
August  25,  1865,  a  motion,  presented  by  Rev.  I.  Dil- 
lon was  carried,  that  L.  J.  Powell,  F.  H.  Grubbs, 
and  Lucy  A.  M.  Grubbs  constitute  the  Board  of  In- 
struction for  the  ensuing  year,  and  that  L.  J.  P'owell 
act  as  president  until  otherwise  ordered.  jiTrs.  C.  A. 
Wilson  was  continued  also  as  governess. 

At  the  same  time  J.  S.  Smith,  G.  Hines,  and  A.  F. 
Waller  were  appointed  a  committee  to  correspond 
in  relation  to  procurin^^  a  president  for  the  university. 
Bishop  Kingsley  was  present  at  this  meeting  of  the 
Board,  and  by  the  committee  of  correspondence  was 
respectfully  requested  to  aid  the  Board  and  com- 
mitttee  in  procuring  a  suitable  person  to  take  charge 
of  the  institution  as  president.  lie  was  then  on  his 
way  to  California. 

The  academical  year  opened  September  10  more 
promisingly  than  any  preceding  year,  there  being  in 
the  senior  class  nine  young  gentlemen  and  nine 
young  ladies  at  the  beginning  of  the  year.  The 
other  departments  were  correspondingly  full,  and  the 
faculty  addressed  themselves  to  their  work  with 
courage  and  unanimity. 

On  the  twentieth  of  September  a  special  meeting 
of  the  Board  was  called,  when  a  telegram  from  Bish- 
op Kingsley  from  California  was  read,  recommending 
the  election  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Wythe,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  to 
the  presidency  of  the  institution.  The  secretary  was 
instructed  to  write  to  Dr.  Wythe,  giving  him  in- 


('  <l 


248 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


n. 


!ii| 


formation  of  his  election.  October  31,  1865,  Dr. 
Wythe  had  arrived  in  the  country,  and,  pursuant  to  a 
call  from  the  president  of  the  Board,  Rev.  David 
Leslie,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  chapel  of  the  Insti- 
tute, and  Dr.  Wythe  was  introduced  to  the  meeting. 
He  made  some  remarks  indicating  his  views  and 
feelings  in  "  assuming  charge  of  the  institution." 

During  the  collegiate  year  there  were  some  changes 
introduced  by  the  president  of  the  faculty  in  regard 
to  the  course  of  study  and  the  plan  of  graduation, 
which  were  approved,  except  as  to  the  course  of 
study.  As  there  appeared  to  be  a  necessity  for 
another  revision  of  the  course  of  study,  the  paper 
introduced  by  Dr.  Wythe  was  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee of  five,  to  wit :  H.  K.  Hines,  J.  S.  Smith,  J. 
C.  Peebles,  D.  Rutledge,  and  C.  N.  Terry.  The 
committee  was  requested  to  invite  Dr.  Wythe  and 
the  rest  of  the  faculty  to  participate  in  their  action. 
The  report  of  this  committee  made  at  an  adjourned 
meeting,  after  some  amendments  by  the  Board,  was 
adopted,  and  fixed  the  price  of  tuition  in  all  the 
different  branches,  and  provided  that  the  academical 
year  should  be  divided  into  three  terms  of  fourteen 
weeks  each.  The  course  of  study  which  was  adopted 
may  be  found  in  the  published  catalogue  of  the 
institution. 

During  the  year,  though  the  records  do  not  specify 
the  precise  time,  a  change  was  made  in  the  Board  of 
Instruction  by  the  connection  of  Miss  Frances  A. 
Wilson  with  the  Intermediate  Department. 

Some  time  during  the  first  part  of  the  year  the 


*  i 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


249 


was 


senior  class  of  young  gentlemen  was  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  two  from  California,  who,  because  of  their 
attainments,  were  allowed  to  enter  the  university 
three  years  in  advance  in  the  college  coui*se,  and 
take  position  in  the  graduating  class. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  July,  1866,  the  names  of  the 
following  persons  were  reported  by  President  Wythe 
as  having  finished  the  prescribed  course  of  studies 
and  passed  creditable  examinations  in  the  same,  and 
were  entitled  to  appropriate  diplomas  setting  forth 
their  attainments :  In  the  Collegiate  Department, 
classical  and  scientific  course,  Nehemiah  L.  Butler, 
Henry  H.  Gilfrey,  Edward  E.  Dodge,  J.  M.  Garrison, 
Joseph  Hannan,  James  K.  N.  Sellwood,  Jos.  A. 
Sellwood,  Samuel  L.  Simpson,  and  William  T. 
Wythe.  -        • 

In  the  scientific  course,  John  M.  Bewley. 

In  the  young  ladies'  course,  Fannie  S.  Case, 
Elizabeth  Harrison,  Frances  M.  M'Farland,  Ellen  E. 
Starkey,  Irene  H.  Strattan,  Helen  L,  Williams,  Jane 
E.  Miller,  Mary  E.  Kobinson,  and  Maria  E.  Smith. 

The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was  conferred 
upon  the  nine  first  named ;  John  M.  Bewley  received 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science,  and  each  of  the 
young  ladies  was  constituted  Mistress  of  Englit^li 
Literature.  This  was  the  largest  class  that  had  as 
yet  graduated  from  the  institution,  and  the  manner 
in  which  they  acquitted  themselves  in  their  exam- 
ination, orations,  and  essays  was  peculiarly  gratify- 
ing to  the  Board  of  Trustees,  the  crowd  of  spectators 
that  witnessed  them,  but  especially  to  those  teachers 


t:,r    V 


m 

1 

1  jK^H 

1 

1 

'«■ 

mU 

*■•-   t'^^ 


io;w*?^ 


1  Si  ( 


II 


260 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


present  who  had  conducted  most  of  them  along  the 
paths  of  science  from  the  primary  branches  up 
through  all  the  grades  of  study,  until  they  had  the 
happiness  of  beholding  them  upon  the  platform, 
standing,  with  palpitating  hearts,  to  receive  the 
honors  of  graduation.  The  commencement  exercises 
that  closed  this  year  were  held  in  what  is  to  be  the 
chapel  of  the  new  building  when  finished,  and  though 
large  was  filled  to  overflowing.  Increasing  maturity 
characterized  the  exercises,  and  the  impression  was 
made  that  our  work  was  indeed  growing  upon  our 
hands.  During  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board, 
which,  from  the  amount  of  business  to  be  transacted, 
was  adjourned  from  time  to  time,  a  very  warm  dis- 
cussion arose  in  relation  to  matters  affecting  the 
Board  of  Instruction,  a  detailed  account  of  which 
would  neither  be  interesting  nor  profitable.  I  there- 
fore simply  allude  to  it  and  pass  it  by.  The  results 
of  this  discussion  were  such,  that  the  changes  which 
were  sought  to  be  made  by  some  in  the  Board  of 
Instruction  were  not  secured,  but  most  of  the 
members  of  the  last  year's  Board  were  still  retained. 
There  was,  however,  a  reorganization  of  the  faculty 
as  follows : 

Kev.  J.  H.  Wythe,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  still  retained 
the  presidency,  and  was  elected  to  the  chair  of 
Mental  and  Moral  Science;  Rev.  L.  J.  Powell, 
A.  M.,  was  elected  professor  of  Mathematics  and  Na- 
tural Science ;  Mr.  S.  C.  Sihpson,  professor  of 
Ancient  Languages ;  Mrs.  Lucy  A.  M.  Grubbs, 
preceptress,  and  teacher  of  French  and  English  Com- 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


251 


position ;  Mr.  F.  II.  Grubbs,  principal  of  the  Aca- 
demic Department;  Miss  Janette  M'Calley,  Pri- 
mary Department;  Mrs.  G.  Berry,  teacher  of  Instru- 
mental Music;  Miss  Mary  Holman,  teacher  of 
Painting  and  Drawing.  .  ..      , 

"With  the  different  departments  thus  provided  for, 
the  school  entered  upon  the  twenty-fourth  year  of 
its  history  since  it  was  first  originated,  with  great 
encouragement  as  to  its  future  advancement. 

At  a  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  No- 
vember 14,  1866,  measures  were  taken  to  organize  a 
medical  department  under  the  charter  of  the  uni- 
versity. Some  two  years  previously,  by  the  solici- 
tation of  a  number  of  medical  gentlemen  at  Portland, 
the  Board  had  organized  a  medical  department  of  the 
university,  to  be  located  at  that  place,  but  as  it  never 
w^ent  into  operation  it  has  been  hitherto  passed  over 
without  any  particular  notice.  But  it  became  fully 
apparent,  from  the  number  of  gentlemen  in  the 
country  desiring  an  education  that  should  qualify 
them  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  that  the  time  had 
now  come  to  put  into  successful  operation  a  medical 
department.  Consequently,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Board  alluded  to  G.  Hines  presented  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  adopted  by  the  Board: 

JResolved,  That,  whereas  the  gentlemen  heretofore 
elected  professors  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
Willamette  University,  which  was  established  at 
Portland,  have  failed  to  organize,  so  as  to  perform 
the  duties  imposed  upon  them  by  their  election,  and 
have  also  resigned  their  positions  and  discontinued 


252 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


!J  ! 


if 


their  relations  to  the  university,  the  said  Medical  De- 
partment be,  and  the  same  is  hereby,  established  and 
located  at  Salem.  That  .'  shall  consist  of  seven  or 
more  professorships,  so  arranged  and  conducted  as 
to  afford  a  full  course  of  instruction  by  lectures  and 
studies,  conforming  to  the  latest  and  most  approved 
practice  of  the  best  medical  institutions,  and  of  such 
a  grade  and  character  as  to  thoroughly  qualify  its 
graduates  for  the  re8ponsi])le  duties  of  a  professional 
life. 

The  Board  proceeded  to  designate  the  various  pro- 
fessorships, and  to  elect  professors  to  the  same,  as 
follows : 

H.  Carpenter,  M.  D.,  professor  of  Civil  and  Mil- 
itary Surgery  ;  E.  K.  Fiske,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  professor 
of  Pathology  and  Practice  of  Medicine ;  John  Bos- 
well,  M.  D.,  professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of 
Women  and  Children ;  J.  H.  Wythe,  A.  M.,  M.  D., 
professor  of  Physiology,  Hygiene,  and  Microscopy ; 
D.  Peyton,  M.  D,,  professor  of  Materia  Medica  and 
Therapeutics ;  J.  W.  M'Afee,  M.  D.,  professor  of 
Chemistry  and  Toxicology ;  W.  C.  Warriner,  M.D., 
demonstrator  of  Anatomy ;  Hon.  J.  S.  Smith,  pro- 
fessor of  Medical  Jurisprudence. 

A.  F.  Waller,  G.  Hines,  and  John  H.  Moores  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  members 
of  the  Medical  Faculty,  and  report  to  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  a  set  of  rules  for  the  regulation  of 
the  Medical  Department. 

The  result  of  the  conference  of  this  committee 
with  the  Medical  Faculty  was  the  report  of  the  fol- 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


253 


lowing  articles  for  the  regulation  and  government  of 
Baid  Medical  Department,  wliich  were  adopted  by  the 
Board. 

"  1.  All  vacandes  which  may  oecvir  in  the 
Medijcal  Faculty  shall  bo  filled  by  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  but  said  faculty  shall  have  the  right  to 
nominate  candidates  for  election,  and  no  person  not 
nominated  shall  ever  be  elected  a  member  thereof, 
unless  said  Medical  Faculty  shall  neglect  for  six 
months  to  make  such  nomination. 

"  2.  The  financial  obligations  and  disbursements 
shall  be  limited  to  the  actual  receipts  from  tuitions 
and  donations.  Any  unusual  expense  that  may  be 
deemed  necessary  shall  be  first  authorized  by  the 
Board  of  Trustees  before  it  is  incurred. 

"  3.  The  Medical  Faculty  shall  have  the  control  of 
all  property  and  means  donated,  or  devised  to  the 
university  for  the  use  of  the  Medical  Department ; 
but  no  use  shall  be  made  of  the  same  for  any  pur- 
pose but  the  promotion  of  medical  science  and 
education. 

"4.  All  moneys  ensuing  from  tuition  in  the 
Medical  Department  shall  belong  exclusively  to  the 
Medical  Faculty,  except  that  all  graduation  fees 
shall  go  into  a  fund,  to  be  called  the  Medical 
Educational  Fund,  the  proceeds  of  which  shall  be 
applied  exclusively  to  the  purchase  of  appliances  to 
facilitate  medical  instruction  and  payment  for 
diplomas. 

"  5.  Charges  of  incapacity,  neglect  of  duty,  un- 
gentlemanly    conduct,   or   other   unfitness    for    the 


If'T 


254: 


OEEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


w,  ; 


;<;- 


1 


position,  made  aga:'r5t  any  member  of  tbe  Medical 
Faculty,  shall  be  fiist  investigated  by  the  Medical 
Faculty,  and  in  case  of  disagreemei  ■  among  the 
members  thereof  in  reference  to  excluding  the 
one  against  whom  the  charges  are  made,  they  shall 
be  referred  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  final 
action. 

"  6.  The  Trustees  of  the  university  shall  at  all 
times  have  the  right  to  examine  into  the  condition 
and  management  of  the  Medical  Department,  and 
advise  with  regard  to  its  interests,  and  the  dean  of 
the  faculty  shall  annually  submit  a  report  of  its 
financial  and  educational  condition,  which,  with  its 
list  of  graduates,  shall  be  embodied  in  the  annual 
catalogue. 

"7.  The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  shall  be 
granted  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  on  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Medical  Faculty,  and  shall  be  con- 
ferred in  the  customary  manner  at  the  annual  com- 
mencement of  the  university. 

"  8.  The  Medical  Faculty  shall  have  power  to 
elect  their  own  officers,  at  such  times  and  in  such 
manner  as  they  may  choose,  and  to  make  all  needful 
rules,  regulations,  and  by-laws  for  the  management 
and  control  of  the  Medical  Department  not  incon- 
sistent with  the  charter  of  the  university." 

Doctor  Warriner  subsequently  resigned  his  posi- 
tion in  the  faculty,  and  M.  B.  Lingo,  M.D.,  was 
elected  to  fill  his  place.  Hon.  J.  S.  Smith  resigned 
his  position  as  professor  of  Medical  Jurisprudence, 
and  at  a  subsequent  meeting  the  Medical  Faculty 


I 


OEEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


255 


s  posi- 
was 
^signed 
ideiice, 
I'ncnlty 


placed  in  nomination  Hon.  J.  H.  Mitchell,  who  was 
elected  to  fill  the  place. 

Thus  organized,  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
Willamette  University  opened  on  the  first  day  of 
April,  1867,  under  very  favorable  auspices,  with 
twenty  students  in  attendance. 

The  collegiate  year  closed  with  appropriate  com- 
mencement exercises  on  the  25th  of  July,  1867.  In 
the  Collegiate  Department  there  were  no  graduates 
this  year ;  but  in  the  Young  Ladies'  Department  a 
class  of  five,  who  did  great  credit  to  themselves  in 
their  examination  and  essays,  received  the  honors 
of  the  institution.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  members  of  the  class :  Susan  Harrison,  Louisa  A. 
Simpson,  Eliza  Witten,  Sarah  J.  "Wythe,  Mary  L. 
Wythe.  These  all  received  the  degree  of  M.  E.  L., 
and  diplomas  setting  forth  their  attainments.  There 
were  three  gentlemen  in  the  Medical  Department 
who  entered  the  institution  so  far  advanced  in  their 
studies  as  that  one  course  of  lectures  entitled 
them  to  the  honors  of  graduation.  Accordingly, 
they  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  in 
accordance  with  the  rules  of  the  institution.  These 
were  John  L.  Martin,  of  Sio,  Linn  County,  William 
A.  Cusick,  of  Waconda,  Marion  County,  and  Daniel 
M.  Jones,  of  Sublimity,  Marion  County.  At  the 
same  thne  that  the  above-navned  persons  received  the 
honoi*s  of  the  institution,  the  honorary  degree  of 
LL.D.  was  conferred  upon  three  very  worthy  and 
distinguished  citizens  of  the  state  of  Oregon,  namely, 
Hon.   George  H.  Williams,  United  States  Senator, 


256 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Hon.  M.  P.  Deady,  United  States  District  Judge, 
and  Hon.  Addison  C.  Gibbs,  ex-Governor  of  the  state 
of  Oregon.  Tliese  were  the  first  honorary  titles 
which  tlie  university  had  ever  conferred.  Twenty- 
five  years  had  now  passed  since  the  Board  of 
Trustees  was  first  organized,  and  fourteen  since  the 
institution  was  chartered  as  a  university  by  the 
legislature  of  Oregon.  True,  the  school  had  experi- 
enced some  severe  reverses,  but  it  had  survived  them, 
and  was  assuming  a  permanency  of  character  which 
not  only  commended  it  to  the  confidence  of  he  com- 
munity, but  which  gave  satisfactory  promise  that, 
whatever  changes  might  occur,  the  future  success  of 
the  school  was  secured  beyond  a  peradventure.  At 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  on  the  evening 
of  the  23th  of  July  of  the  present  year,  (1867,)  Dr. 
J.  H.  Wythe,  for  reasons  which  need  not  be  stated 
here,  but  which  were  doubtless  satisfactory  to  himself, 
resigned  his  position  as  president  of  the  university, 
and  the  resignation  was  accepted  by  the  Board  of 
Trustees.  The  Board  then  proceeded  to  the  election 
of  a  new  president,  and  also  to  fill  the  various  chairs. 
Dr.  Benson,  of  the  PacijiG  Christian  Advocate^  was 
elected  president,  T.  M.  Gatch,  A.M.,  and  Mr.  O.  S. 
Frambes,  A.  M.,  were  elected  professors.  Doubtless 
the  prosperity  of  the  institution  would  have  been 
greatly  promoted  if  these  gentlemen  had  found  it 
convenient  to  accept  of  the  positions  oifercd  them ; 
but  the  obligations  resting  upon  them,  growing  out 
of  their  present  ])ositions,  were  such,  that  in  their 
judgment  tliey  could  not  consistently  do  so,  and,  con- 


f 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


257 


sequently,  tliey  respectfully  declined.  The  Board  of 
Trustees  was  thrown  upon  the  necessity  of  calling 
another  meeting  for  the  election  of  a  Faculty  of 
Instruction.  This  they  did  on  the  evening  of  the  3d 
day  of  September,  and  the  Board  went  into  the 
election  of  a  faculty  with  the  following  results : 
Rev.  L.  T.  Woodward,  A.M.,  was  elected  professor 
of  Ancient  Languages  and  Moral  Science,  and  con- 
stituted the  acting  president  of  the  institution. 
Rev.  L.  J.  Powell,  A.M.,  professor  of  Mathematics 
and  Natural  Science.  F.  II.  Grubbs,  A.M.,  prin- 
cipal of  Academical  Department.  Lucy  A.  M. 
Grubbs,  M.E.L.,  preceptress  and  teacher  of  French 
and  English  Composition.  Elizabeth  H.  AYoodward, 
Primary  Department.  Almira  Ilolman,  teacher  of 
Instrumental  Music.  v 

Of  the  members  of  this  faculty  who  now  (October 
23,  1867)  constitute  the  Board  of  Instruction  in  the 
Willamette  University,  three.  Rev.  L.  J.  Powell, 
A.  M.,  F.  H.  Grubbs,  A.  M.,  and  Mrs.  L.  A.  M. 
Grubbs,  have  been  connected  with  the  school  as 
teachers  for  six  years ;  the  other  members  of  the 
faculty  have  been  newly  elected. 

The  present  academical  year  opened  very  flatter- 
ingly on  the  sixteenth  of  September  in  the  old  build- 
ing, with  upward  of  one  hundred  students  in  attend- 
ance on  the  first  day  of  the  session,  and  with  the 
prospect  of  soon  occupying  the  new  building,  the 
Becond  and  third  stories  of  which  were  being  pre- 
pared for  the  reception  of  the  school.  And  nov/, 
while  the  school  is  retained  for  a  few  weeks  only  in 


'l 

1       ( 

'•    i 


i!  1 


258 


OEEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


the  old  dilapidated  frame  house,  wbich  has  bufi'eted 
the  severe  winter  storms  of  Oregon  for  twenty- five 
years,  as  we  have  only  casually  alluded  to  the  fact 
that  efforts  were  being  made  to  provide  more  com- 
fortable quarters,  we  will  leave  the  newly-organized 
faculty  to  prosecute  their  work  under  serious  disad- 
vantages, and  proceed  to  give  an  account  of  the 
efforts  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  erect  a  new  col- 
lege edifice. 


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OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


261 


CHAPTER  XI. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NEW  COLLEGE  BUILDING. 


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For  some  years  previous  to  1860  the  trustees  and 
friends  of  the  Institution  generally  had  felt  the  need 
of  a  more  commodious  building  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  school.  The  old  building  had  been  con- 
structed with  a  view  to  its  occupancy  for  other  pur- 
poses than  that  of  a  college  edifice,  and  though  it 
answered  a  very  good  purpose  for  many  years,  yet 
the  rooms  were  low  and  uncomfortable,  and  the 
building  was  becoming  dilapidated,  the  roof  being 
scarcely  a  protection  from  the  storm,  as  the  shingles 
in  many  places  were  worn  literally  through  to  the 
sheeting,  and  the  whole  building  had  become  so 
weakened  by  age  and  decay  that  the  winter  winds 
would  shake  it  from  the  cupola  to  the  foundation. 
Besides  this  the  old  building  was  becoming  too  small 
for  the  school,  the  number  of  which  varied  from  year 
to  year  from  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  to  three 
hundred  and  twenty  students.  The  inability  of  the 
community  to  meet  the  expenses  of  such  an  under- 
taking restrained  the  Board  for  some  time  from 
making  the  attempt  to  erect  a  new  college  edifice ; 
but  the  increasingly  dilapidated  condition  of  the  old 
building  and  the  increase  of  students  rendered  it  ab- 
solutely necessary  for  them  either  to  build  or  abandon 


'V: 


! 


*  V 


262 


OEEGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


r 


the  wliole  enterprise.  The  latter  idea,  however,  did 
not  belong  to  their  vocabulary.  A  new  and  commo- 
dious building  had  become  an  absolute  necessity  for 
the  interests  and  perpetuity  of  the  institution,  and 
as  Providence  had  smiled  upon  our  eflforts  thus  far, 
and  conducted  us  safely  through  every  trj'mg  emer- 
gency, guiding  ou~  bark  at  times  in  the  midst  of 
storms  and  breakers  on  every  hand,  we  decided  to 
venture  out.  upon  another  sea  of  uncertainty,  so  far  as 
human  view  could  determine  results,  not  doubting 
but  that  the  same  good  Providence  that  had  sus- 
tained and  prospered  us  thus  far  on  our  voyage 
would  bring  us  safe  to  land.  Consequently,  influ- 
enced by  these  considerations,  at  a  meeting,  held 
October  3,  1860,  the  Board  resolved  to  take  imme- 
diate measures  to  prepare  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
college  building,  and  the  agent,  Eev.  A.  F.  "Waller, 
was  instructed  to  raise  subscriptions  for  that  purpose. 
The  necessities  of  the  case  prompted  to  this  action  of 
the  Board  at  this  time  more  than  the  prospect  of 
immediate  success.  The  action  was  found  to  be  a 
little  premature.  Consequently  two  years  passed 
and  little  progress  was  made,  except  that  the  subject 
of  building  during  that  time  was  thoroughly  can- 
vassed by  the  agent  and  others,  and  the  necessity  for 
a  new  building  became  more  and  more  apparent. 
Again,  November  19,  1862,  the  question  of  a  new 
college  edifice  was  introduced  before  the  Board  by 
the  secretary,  Rev.  William  Roberts,  and,  on  motion 
of  J.  L.  Parrish,  it  was  again  resolved  that  the  Board 
now  proceed  to  take  measures  for  the  erection  of  a 


!■: 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


263 


new  college  building  some  time  during  the  ensuing 
year.  Pursuant  to  this,  for  the  purpose  of  setting 
the  wheels  in  motion,  a  committee,  consisting  of  J 
H.  Moores,  J.  Lamson,  G.  llines,  A.  F.  "Waller,  and 
J.  L.  Parrish,  was  appointed  to  prepare  and  submit 
plans  of  college  buildings  to  the  Board  at  the  next 
meeting. 

The  committee  thus  appointed  reported  a  number 
of  plans  at  a  meeting  held  December  2,  1862,  and  on 
motion  of  Gustavus  Hines  the  Board  instructed  the 
agent  to  solicit  subscriptions  for,  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  call  a  public  meeting  at  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to 
aid  in  the  erection  of  the  building.  The  agent  was 
further  instructed  to  obtain  subscriptions,  to  the 
amount  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  or  more,  for  this 
purpose,  and  the  subscribers  were  made  liable  for 
their  respective  subscriptions  when  the  amount  of 
fifteen  thousand  dollars  was  subscribed,  the  money  to 
be  paid  in  gold  or  silver  coin,  or  its  equivalent.  To 
bring  the  matter  properly  before  the  public  the  sub- 
stance of  the  above  resolutions  was  published  in 
the  Oregon  Statesman  and  the  Pacific  Christian 
Advocate.  The  agent.  Rev.  A.  F.  Waller,  thus 
backed  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  entered  upon  his 
work  of  soliciting  subscriptions,  but  found  it  to  be  a 
slow  and  tedious  process ;  for,  five  months  after  com- 
mencing, at  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  May  20, 
1863,  he  reported  that  twelve  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  only  had  been  subscribed.  Such,  how- 
ever, were  the  encouragements  for  an  increase  of 


J  ■  :  1' 


264 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


subscriptions  that  the  Boa-d  proceeded  to  appoint  a 
building  committee,  consisting  of  J.  H.  Moores,  A.  F. 
Waller,  and  E.  N.  Cook,  to  which  was  added  subse- 
quently the  names  of  T.  M.  Gatch  and  G.  Ilines. 

As  yet  no  particular  plan  of  building  had  been 
adopted  by  the  Board,  and  a  somewhat  warm  and 
lengthened  discussion  arose  in  the  Board  in  regard  to 
the  kind  of  building  which  should  be  erected.  Two 
,  or  three  plans  were  adopted  at  different  times,  and 
subsequently  set  aside.  Finally,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Board  held  February  22,  1864,  a  settlement  of  the 
plan  was  effected  by  a  vote  of  sixteen  to  one,  a  num- 
ber of  the  members  being  absent,  and  the  action  was 
thought  sufficiently  harmonious  to  warrant  the  break- 
ing of  ground  for  the  foundation  of  the  building.  It 
had  previously  been  decided  to  build  of  brick,  and  by 
examination  it  was  found  that  the  earth  to  be  re- 
moved to  make  room  for  the  basement,  and  for  the 
foundation  of  the  building,  was  as  good  a  material  for 
the  manufacture  of  the  brick  as  any  that  could  be 
found;  hence  it  was  decided  to  make  the  brick  upon 
the  ground.  The  earth  was  broken  the  last  part  of 
the  month  of  February,  1864,  and  a  professional 
brick-maker  was  employed  to  superintend  the  manu- 
facture of  five  hundred  thousand  brick.  Rev.  A.  F. 
Waller  having  the  general  oversight  of  the  whole 
matter  as  agent  of  the  Board.  This  plan  succeeded 
to  admiration,  for  in  due  time  the  workmen  employed 
presented  us  with  a  most  magnificent  kiln  of  brick 
of  the  very  first  quality,  which  seemed  waiting  to  be 
employed  to  elevate  the  walls  of  our  college  edifice. 


14 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


205 


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Stoiic  of  tlie  most  durable  quality  was  procured  to 
lay  the  foundation  tl'reo  feet  high.  This  precaution 
was  entered  into  to  protect  the  brick  from  the  damp- 
ness of  the  earth.  While  these  things  were  moving 
forward  Mr.  "Waller  was  enlarging  the  subscription 
for  the  building,  so  that  when  the  bricks  were  ready, 
and  the  stone-masons  were  laying  the  foundation,  and 
the  time  approached  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  our 
college,  the  snbscription  amounted  to  about  twenty- 
five  thor  and  dollars.  The  corner-stone  of  the  uni- 
^■ersity  was  laid  July  24,  1864,  with  somewhat  im- 
posing ceremonies.  Governor  Gibbs  delivered  an 
address  on  the  occasion,  and  a  historical  sketch  of 
the  institution  was  read  before  a  very  large  assem- 
bly <  if  the  citizens  of  Salem  and  vicinity  by  Gustavus 
Ilines.  Rev.  David  Leslie,  the  venerable  president 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  performed  the  ceremony  of 
laying  the  corner-stone,  various  other  gentkmen  as- 
sisting in  the  services.  The  historical  sketch,  Bible, 
Hymn  Book,  Methodist  Discipline,  and  the  names  of 
many  of  the  old  pioneers,  with  various  other  docu- 
ments and  trinkets,  were  deposited  in  an  excavation 
in  the  corner-stone,  according  to  the  usnal  custom  in 
such  cases,  and  then  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God, 
without  whose  aid 

"  The  best  concerted  schemes  are  vain, 
And  never  can  succeed," 

was  devoutly  invoked  upon  the  enterprise  by  the 
Rev.  William  Roberts,  that  it  might  be  carried  for- 
ward to  a  triumphant  and  glorions  success.     And 


i' 


266 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


I    ' 


!li 


now  the  walls  begin  to  assume  shape  and  form,  and 
gradually  to  rise  from  their  foundation.  At  length 
the  last  brick  is  laid,  the  timbers  are  all  adjusted  to 
their  places,  the  roof  covers  the  beautiful  superstruc- 
ture, the  symmetrical  dome  crowns  the  pile,  and  the 
whole  stands  forth  in  its  beauty  and  grandeur  as  a 
monument  of  the  indomitable  perseverance  and 
energy  of  the  few  men  who  were  the  active  members 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  whose  plans  and  policies 
and  instructions  were  faithfully  carried  out  by  Kev. 
A.  F.  Waller,  perhaps  the  most  indefatigable  agent 
with  whom  an  institution  of  learning  was  ever 
favored. 

The  plan  of  the  building  is  that  of  a  Greek  cross, 
and  was  recommended  to  the  agent  by  Bishop  Janes 
when  he  last  visited  the  Oregon  Conference.  The 
two  parts  of  the  cross  are  each  eighty-four  feet  long  and 
forty-four  feet  wide.  These  cross  each  other  exactly 
in  the  center,  so  that  the  building  presents  about  the 
same  appearance  from  which  ever  side  you  take  your 
observation.  The  height  of  the  building  from  the 
base  to  the  top  of  the  dome  is  one  hundred  feet,  and 
from  the  base  to  the  eaves  fifty  feet.  The  basement 
story  is  twelve  feet,  the  first  story  above  is  sixteen 
feet,  the  second  twelve  feet,  and  the  third  twelve  feet. 
There  are  three  entrances  to  the  building,  the  main 
entrance  into  the  chapel  being  in  the  end  of  the 
north  wing,  and  the  other  entrances  being  in  the  east 
and  west  wings.  These  wings  are  mainly  occupied 
by  a  broad  and  commodious  winding  stairway  which 
lead  to  the  school  rooms  above,  so  that  the  members 


ir  ■ 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


207 


of  the  Bcbool  on  entering  are  not  obliged  to  pass 
through  the  chapel.  The  chapel  is  very  commodious, 
occu])ying  the  entire  story  of  the  cross  above  the 
basement,  running  north  and  south.  That  is,  the 
chapel  is  forty-four  by  eighty-four  feet,  with  the 
walls  taken  ont.  It  is  nicely  finished,  with  a  broad 
platform  at  the  south  end,  and  finely  and  comfort- 
ably seated  throughout.  At  each  side  there  is  a  door 
which  passes  into  the  east  and  west  wings  to  the  stair- 
ways. One  of  these  doors  is  designed  for  the  ingress 
and  egress  of  the  ladies,  and  the  other  for  the  gentle- 
men of  the  school.  The  school  rooms  in  the  second 
and  third  stories  are  large  and  very  neatly  finished, 
and  furnished  with  seats  of  the  latest  improvement. 
They  are  of  sufficient  capacity  to  accommodate  about 
four  hundred  pupils.  The  house  is  judiciously 
arranged  for  the  accommodation  of  the  different 
departments,  together  with  the  literary  societies,  of 
which  there  are  three  connected  with  the  institution. 
Until  other  arrangements  can  be  made  by  the  Med- 
ical Faculty,  the  Medical  Department  will  occupy 
one  room  in  the  third  story. 

The  faculty  and  students  of  the  institution  had 
often,  during  the  last  year,  been  flattered  with  the 
idea  that  they  would  soon  be  able  to  remove  froLi 
their  uncomfortable  quarters  in  the  old  building  into 
the  new  building ;  but  up  to  this  period  (October 
14,)  the  progress  of  the  building  toward  complotion 
was  so  retarded  by  circumstances  that  the  Board  of 
Trustees  seemed  unable  to  control,  thai  the  rooms 
remained  in  so  unfinished  a  condition  that  no  one  of 


'Ww^mfr'' 


^■• 


I  :i; 


11 


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if 


268  OEEQON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIOXS. 

them  could  consistently  be  occupied.  At  tliis  time, 
however,  it  was  announced  that  on  Monday,  the  2l8t 
of  October,  the  removal  could  be  made. 

Accordingly,  at  9  o'clock  of  the  21st  day  of  October, 
1867,  the  school  was  marched,  by  the  acting  president, 
to  the  sound  of  martial  music,  from  the  old  house  to 
the  new,  where  some  of  the  members  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  and  friends  of  the  institution,  were  as- 
sembled to  receive  them.  There  was  no  formal 
dedication  of  the  house,  as  is  usual  on  such  occasions ; 
but  the  venerable  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
Rev.  David  Leslie,  by  an  appropriate  address  to  the 
faculty  and  students,  opened  so  much  of  the  house 
as  had  been  finished  for  their  occupancy,  and,  with 
other  members  of  the  Board  present,  gave  the  school 
a  most  cordial  and  hearty  welcome  and  greeting  to 
the  neat  and  commodious  halls  of  the  new  college 
edifice. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  building  which  we 
have  thus  described,  according  to  a  close  estimate,  is 
as  follows : 

Cost  of  the  building  thus  far $40,000 

Subscriptions  collected     "     30,000 

Subscriptions  on  Land      "     8,000 

Liabilities  "     10,000 

Finishing  the  building  will  cost 1,000 

Besides  this,  we  need  to  furnish  the  building  with 
additional  apparatus,  a  library,  a  good  piano,  warm- 
ing apparatus,  and  other  things  necessary,  say  ten 
tliousand  dollars. 

This  showing,  and  the  figures  are  very  moderate. 


I 


OREGON   AXD   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


269 


,000 
,000 

,000 
,1)00 
,000 

ig  with 
warin- 
iay  ten 

1(1  crate, 


presents  the  fact  that  the  university  needs  for  pres- 
ent use  to  set  it  fully  in  working  order  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  question  here  arises,  How  is  this  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  to  be  obtained  ?  The  peopla  of  the  city 
of  Salem,  and  the  community  generally  wliere  the 
institution  is  located,  have  contributed  already  to  the 
extent  of  their  ability. 

The  lands  that  have  been  donated  with  a  view  to 
the  permanent  endowment  of  the  institution  cannot 
be  used  for  building  purposes,  neither  would  it  be 
wise  to  so  use  tliem,  even  if  the  Board  had  the  right 
to  do  it.  The  Board  indulged  the  hope  tliat  consider- 
able material  aid  might  be  afforded  them  from  the 
Centenary  collections  within  the  bounds  of  the  Oregon 
Conference;  but  the  territory  embraced  within  the 
limits  of  the  conference  was  new  and  thinly  settled, 
and  each  community  had  its  own  Church  and 
educational  interests  to  promote,  and,  consequently, 
most  of  the  offerings  made  were  designed  to  promote 
interests  of  a  local  character,  and  hence  the  assist- 
ance from  this  quarter  will  be  very  limited. 

Sometimes  the  Board  has  looked  with  hope  toward 
the  East,  when  they  have  heard  of  the  millions  of 
money  that  have  been  placed  as  Centenarj'  offerings 
upon  the  altar  of  the  Church,  and  have  wondero.d 
whether,  in  the  general  distribution  of  Centenary 
gifts,  a  struggling,  feeble  people  on  the  Pacific  coast 
might  not  be  remembered.  We  have  also  thought 
of  those  wealthy  members  of  the  Church  who  are 
nhvavs  readv  to    everv  good  work,  and   liave  most 


270 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


ardently  desired  an  opportunity  to  set  clearly  before 
tliem  our  necessities,  believing  tbat  if  we  could  do  so 
they  would  extend  their  generosity  even  to  us.  If 
it  be  the  object  of  wealthy  men  in  the  bestowment 
of  money  to  do  good,  surely  there  never  was  a  better 
opportunity  than  to  relieve  the  Willamette  Univer- 
sity in  its  present  needs,  and  place  it  upon  a  proper 
basiSj  by  bestowing;  '^  on  it  a  suitable  endowment, 


® 


OREUON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


271 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MISCELLANEOUS  MATTERS  CONNECTED   WITH  OUR 

HISTORY. 

In  a  previous  cliapter  we  have  spoken  of  tlie  estab- 
lishment of  a  Medical  Department  in  connection  with 
the  Willamette  University;  but  as  a  few  changes 
have  occurred  in  that  department  since  its  first  organ- 
ization, it  will  be  proper  to  refer  to  it  again.  The 
first  session  opened,  in  the  spring  of  1867,  with  twenty 
students  in  attendance,  a  very  encouraging  number 
for  so  young  an  institution.  We  have  already  stated 
that  three  of  the  students  received  the  honors  of  the 
institution. 

The  second  session  was  to  open  on  the  fifth  of 
November,  with  the  prospect  of  an  increase  of  one 
third  in  the  number  of  students  in  attendance.  The 
announcement  for  the  session  of  1867-8,  sets  forth 
the  following  as  the  Medical  Faculty  for  the  present 
year: 

,  DEPARTMENT   OF   MEDICINE  AND   SURGERY. 

J.  H.  Wythe,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  President. 

MEDICAL   FACULTY. 

H.  Carpenter,  M.  D.,  professor  of  Civil  and  Military 
Surgery;  E.  R.  FiSKE,  A.M.,  M.  D.,  professor  of 
Pathology  and  Practice  of  Medicine;  J.  Boswell, 


i»SII«t^|',W«iLP   ><WK*f 


l\       !?; 


272 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


M.  D.,  professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of 
Women  and  Children;  J,  II.  Wythe,  A.  M.,  M. D., 
professor  of  Physiology,  Hygiene,  and  Microscopy ; 
D.  Peyton,  M.  D.,  professor  of  Materia  Medica  and 
Therapeutics;  J.  W.  M'Afee,  M.D.,  professor  of 
Chemistry  and"^  Toxicology ;  A.  Sharples,  A.  B., 
M.  D.,  professor  of  Descriptive  and  Surgical  Anatomy ; 
M.  B.  Lingo,  M.  D.,  demonstrator  of  Anatomy ; 
Hon.  J.  H.  Mitchell,  professor  of  Medical  Juris- 
prudence. 


The  gentlemen  composing  the  above  faculty  are 
mostly  persons  of  long  practical  experience  in  the  med- 
ical profession,  and  are  well  qualified  to  sustain  the 
department,  and  to  carry  it  forward  until  it  shall  be 
placed  in  the  highest  rank  of  schools  for  the  promo- 
tion of  sound  medical  learning  and  practical  acquire- 
ments. 

The  requirements  for  graduation  are  as  fol- 
lows: 

The  candidate  must  be  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  must  present  proper  testimonials  of  a  good  moral 
character,  and  satisfactory  evidence  of  having  studied 
medicine  three  years,  lectures  included,  with  a  repu- 
table practitioner  of  medicine.  He  must  have  at- 
tended two  full  courses  of  lectures,  the  last  of  which 
must  have  been  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
Willamette  University.  He  must  pass  a  satisfactory 
examination,  and  submit  to  tlie  faculty  an  accept- 
able thesis  on  some  medical  subject  in  his  own  hand- 
writing, • 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


273 


fol- 

[)f  age, 
moral 
tudied 
repii- 

ive  at- 
wliich 
of  the 
Hctory 

accept- 
liand- 


For  an  ad  eundevi  degree,  a  diploma  from  a 
regular  medical  college  and  a  satisfactory  examination 
in  tlje  practical  branches,  and  the  payment  of  the 
usual  fee. 

Though  this  medical  department  is  in  its  infancy, 
yet  from  the  manner  in  which  it  has  been  conducted 
thus  far,  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  the  faculty  by 
the  profession  and  the  public  generally,  it  has  doubt- 
less become  a  fixed  fact  in  connection  with  our  uni- 
versity, and  its  future  history  will  run  pt^rallel  with 
that  of  the  parent  institution  so  long  as  the  healing 
art  shall  be  needed  among  men. 

In  the  progress  of  our  history  we  have  had 
occasion  to  record  the  deaths  of  but  very  few  who 
have  been  connected  with  our  institution  either  as 
trustees  or  as  teachers ;  and  here  we  will  take  occa- 
sion to  mention  some  in  this  regard  whose  names 
have  been  omitted.  In  the  list  of  teachers  the  name 
of  S.  B,  "Wilber  should  not  be  forgotten.  Mr.  Wilber 
was  a  ver}-^  efiicient  and  successful  teacher  in  the 
Academical  Department  of  the  university,  and  could 
have  retained  his  positi^^n  to  an  indefinite  period,  but 
resigned  his  place,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  where  he  soon  after  passed  from 
the  labors  of  earth  to  the  rewards  of  eternity.  He 
was  a  relative  of  the  Rev.  James  II.  Wilber,  \A\o 
was  the  founder  of  the  Umpqua  Academy,  the  prin- 
cipal agent  in  the  establishment  of  the  Portland 
Seminary,  and  at  the  present  writing  is  the  la- 
borious and  successful  missionary  and  Indian  agent 
in  the  Yakima  nation. 


2Y4 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


m; 


i  '!'  4 


Mrs.  Jones,  formerly  Mary  Leslie,  the  amiable  and 
excellent  daughter  of  "  Father  Leslie,"  the  venerable 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  who  received  her 
education  mainly  in  connection  with  the  university, 
and  for  some  time  was  employed  as  a  teacher,  and 
was  very  successful  in  her  department,  has  also  gone 
to  her  reward.  , 

Miss  Lucia  A.  IST.  Jordan  is  another  who  should 
not  be  passed  in  connection  with  this  history  simply 
with  the  mention  of  her  name.  She  left  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  in  Newbury,  Yer- 
mont,  where  she  had  received  her  education,  and 
took  passage  in  a  steamer  for  Oregon  by  the  way  of 
Panama  and  San  Francisco.  At  the  latter  place  she 
went  on  board  the  ill-fated  Northerner,  bound  for 
Portland,  which  was  wrecked  on  the  Pacific  coast 
midway  between  the  two  ports.  She  endured  all  the 
horrors  and  perils  of  that  most  fearful  disaster,  and 
witnessed  hundreds  of  her  fellow-passengers  sink  to 
their  watery  graves.  Calmly  and  quietly  she  ad- 
dressed herself  to  one  effort  to  save  herself  from  the 
terrible  fate  of  most  of  her  comrades,  clasped  a  life- 
preserver  around  her,  and  knowing  that  it  was  the 
only  chance,  committed  herself  to  the  angry  billows. 
Her  life-preserver  buoyed  her  up,  though  the  rolling 
surges  often  broke  with  violence  over  her.  She 
neared  the  shore,  retaining  her  consciousness  until 
within  a  few  yards  of  land.  Having  been  so  often 
submerged  by  the  breaking  waves,  she  received  so 
much  of  the  briny  element  as  to  experience  all  the 
sensations  of  drowning,  and  losing  herself,  she  sunk 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


276 


and 


large 


as  into  tlie  arms  of  death.  At  length  a  friendly- 
wave  bore  lier  to  the  shore,  and  she  was  snatched 
from  tlie  under-current  by  the  persons  who  liad  been 
BO  fortunate  as  to  rea(!:h  the  sliore  in  safety,  and  borne 
away  to  tlie  dry  land.  The  usual  resuscitating  means 
in  cases  cf  drowning  were  resorted  to,  and  at  length, 
to  the  great  joy  of  all,  signs  of  life  appeared.  She 
Buivived  the  terrible  ordeal,  and  after  partially  re- 
covering from  the  shock  which  her  sensitive  nature 
had  received,  she  proceeded  on  to  Washington  Ter- 
ritory, where  she  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  season, 
and  then,  in  answer  to  a  call  from  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  university,  she  came  tc  Oregon  and 
became  associated  with  the  faculty  as  a  teacher  of 
the  ornamental  branches,  occasionally  assisting  in 
other  departments.  But  it  is  thought  that  she  never 
entirely  recovered  from  the  injury  received  from 
her  shipwreck.  After  a  few  months  of  very  accept- 
able and  efficient  service  as  a  teacher,  her  Master 
called  and  found  her  ready  to  obey  the  summons. 
Though  mysteriously  removed,  in  the  vigor  of  youth 
and  amid  scenes  of  great  usefulness,  from  the  associ- 
ations of  earth  to  the  realities  of  eternity,  she  did  not 
fail  to  leave  the  impression  of  her  many  excellences 
upon  the  minds  of  the  youth  she  taught,  as  upon  all 
who  knew  her. 

The  present  Board  of  Trustees  is  very  large,  and 
will  compare  well  in  every  respect  with  any  similar 
board  in  any  portion  of  the  country.  For  the  in- 
formation of  all  interested,  both  east  and  west,  where 
their  frietids  reside,  I  would  here  append  their  names. 


*1 


276 


OEEGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Ecv.  David  Leslie,  President;  Hon.  S.  E.  May, 
Secretary ;  J.  II.  Moores,  Esq.,  Treasurer ;  Rev. 
Wm.  Roberts,  Hon.  A.  C.  Gibbs,  Rev.  A.  F.  Waller, 
Hon.  L.  F.  Grover,  A.  M.,  Rev.  G.  Ilines,  Hon.  J. 
0.  Peebles,  Rev.  J.  H.  Wilber,  Hon.  J.  R.  Moores, 
Rev.  J.  Dillon,  A.  M.,  F.  R.  Smith,  Esq.,  Rev.  C.  S. 
Kingsley,  A.  M.,  Rev.  J.  L.  Parrish,  Rev.  II.  K. 
Ilines,  A.  A.  M'Cully,  Esq.,  L.  Heath,  Esq.,  Rev.  D. 
Rutledge,  J.  N.  Gilbert,  Esq.,  Jos.  Waldo,  Esq.,  T.  M. 
Gatch,  A.  M.,  Hon.  E.  N.  Cook,  Hon.  J.  S.  Smith, 
J.  H.  Nicklin,  Esq.,  Thos.  Cross,  Esq.,  L.  S.  Dyer, 
Esq.,  W.  R.  Patty,  Esq.,  E.  Strong,  Esq.,  Jos.  Holman, 
Esq.,  Hon.  C.  N.  Terry,  D.  Waldo,  Esq.,  C.  Craft, 
Esq.,  Hon.  R.  Mallory,  Hon.  J.  Lamson,  Hon.  J.  II. 
Harrison,  Hon.  J.  H.  Mitchell,  E.  R.  Fiske,  A.  M., 
M.  D.,  Rev.  K  Doane,  Rev.  L.  T.  Woodward,  A.  M., 
Rev.  C.  G.  Belknap,  Hon.  Wm.  Watkins,  M.  D,, 
W.  S.  Ladd,  Esq.,  Hon.  E.  D.  Shattuck,  Hon.  G.  H. 
Williams,  W.  Hanxhurst,  Esq.,  Hon.  G.  Abernethy, 
J.  R.  Robb,  Esq.,  Dr.  A.  M.  Belt,  Rev.  T.  H.  Pearne, 
Rev.  J.  H.  Wythe,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  W.  B.  Gray,  Esq., 
Rev.  J.  F.  Devone,  Rev.  J.  B.  Calloway,  Rev.  C.  S. 
Strattan. 

Four  only  of  the  present  Board  of  Trustees  were 
members  of  the  original  Board  elected  in  18-12  when 
the  Oregon  Institute  received  its  birth,  namely,  Rev. 
David  Leslie,  Hon.  George  Abernethy,  Rev.  J.  L. 
Parrish,  and  Rev.  Gustavus  Ilines.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  latter  name  these  have  been  members 
of  the  Board  from  the  beginning,  and  he  also^  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  years,  during  which  he  was 


*  c 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


277 


were 
when 
Rev. 
J.  L. 
lie  ex- 
smbers 
3^  with 
le  was 


® 


® 


absent  from  tlie  country.  Three  of  the  original  nine 
members  of  tlie  first  Board  have  died,  Rev.  Jason 
Lee  and  Alanson  Beers,  whose  departure  has  ah*eady 
been  noticed,  and  Rev.  Hamilton  Campbell.  Jt 
should  be  observed  In  reference  to  Mr.  Campbell 
that  he  was  for  many  years  an  efficient  and  active 
member  of  the  Board,  and  a  liberal  patron  of  the 
institution.  His  children  he  mainly  educated  in  the 
institute,  and  his  girls,  most  of  whom  are  now  in 
the  care  of  families  of  their  own,  are  all  of  them 
adorning  society  in  the  city  of  Portland. 

Mr.  Campbell  unfortunately  failed  in  business,  and 
in  his  efforts  to  raise  himself  from  his  shattered  con- 
dition he  went  to  the  silver  mines  of  Northern 
Mexico,  and  while  in  the  act  of  washing  out  the 
shining  dust  he  met  with  a  violent  death  at  the 
hands  of  a  treacherous  peon. 

While  speaking  of  those  members  of  the  Board 
who  have  taken  their  departure,  we  should  not  be 
doing  justice  to  the  memory  of  one  who,  though  not 
among  the  original  nine,  was  early  connected  with 
the  Board,  and  contributed  much  to  promote  the  inter- 
ests of  the  institution  without  naming  John  Force,  a 
relative  of  Rev.  Manning  Force,  of  the  New  Jersey 
Conference.  For  years  he  was  among  the  most 
active,  efficient,  and  stirring  members  of  the  Board. 
He  also  has  passed  away,  but  his  name  is  recorded 
in  the  list  of  the  true  friends  and  patrons  of  the 
school. ,, 

With  this  record  of  the  dead,  it  may  not  be  im- 
proper to  refer  to  some  who  are  yet  among  the  living, 


® 


'iU 


T'  5 


278 


OREGON   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


who  have  been  cognizant  not  only  of  everything 
connected  with  tlie  history  of  the  school  from  its 
first  incipiency,  but  also  with  the  growth  and  prog- 
ress of  the  entire  country.  I  now  refer  to  Rev.  J.  L. 
Parrish,  Rev.  A.  F.  Waller,  and  Rev.  David  Leslie. 
The  first  mentioned  was  one  of  the  original  nine, 
and  has  ever  taken  a  very  prominent  part  in  every 
enterprise  involving  the  interests  of  the  university. 
Ho  was  one  of  the  large  reinforcement  to  the  Oregon 
Mission  of  1840,  and  from  that  period  until  the 
present  has  never  left  the  Pacific  coast.  He  has 
occupied  prominent  positions  in  the  country,  and 
has  been  identified  with  many  extensive  business 
operations,  and  Providence  has  greatly  smiled  upon 
him  in  the  bestowment  of  wealth ;  but  whether  in 
want  or  abundance  he  has  remained  the  unchangeable 
friend  and  supporter  of  the  Oregon  Institute  and 
"Willamette  University.  Rev.  A.  F.  Waller  was 
elect  3d  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  1843, 
one  year  from  the  time  of  its  organization.  He  also 
arrived  in  Oregon  in  1840,  and  has  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  all  the  moral,  religious,  and  educa- 
tional enterprises  which  have  promised  success  since 
that  period.  For  many  years  he  has  been  the  inde- 
fatigable and  successful  agent  of  the  university,  and 
besides  being  a  liberal  contributor  to  its  needs  from 
time  to  time,  he  performed  some  three  years  of 
laborious  service  as  agent  of  the  school  withoijt  fee 
or  reward. 

Rev.  David  Leslie  arrived  in  Oregon  in  1837,  and 
constituted  one  of  about  a  dozen  Americans  at  tliat 


f 


OllEGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


279 


time  on  the  Pacific  coast,  rerliajis  the  incip'eiit 
measures  which  led  to  the  establishinent  of  uu  insti- 
tution of  learn ing  arc  attributable  more  to  him  than 
to  any  other  individual  now  living.  Identified  with 
all  the  interests  of  the  country  from  its  infancy,  and 
especially  with  those  connected  with  our  rising  semi- 
nary, and  consecrating  all  of  his  energies  in  the  pro- 
motion of  those  interests,  he  has  ever  been  rightfully 
esteemed  as  the  father,  the  patriarch  of  the  institu- 
tion. With  the  exception  of  one  year,  when  he  per- 
formed a  voyage  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  on  account 
of  the  health  of  his  family,  he  has  occupied  the  very 
responsible  position  of  president  of  the  Board  of 
Trustee;^  from  the  beginning  to  the  present  time. 
Ready  always  to  relinquish  personal  and  family 
interests  and  make  great  sacrifices  for  the  benefit 
of  the  institution,  he  has  proved  himself  worthy  of 
the  honor  that  has  been  conferred  upon  him  by  an 
annual  election  to  the  presidency  of  the  Board  for 
twenty-three  years. 

Being  cognizant  of  all  the  trials  and  reverses 
through  which  the  institution  has  passed,  and  sym- 
pathizing with  it  in  all  the  struggles  connected  with 
its  rise  and  progress,  the  needle  is  no  truer  to  the 
pole  than  these  persons  have  been  to  all  the  interests 
of  the  Willamette  University.  And,  though  it  would 
not  be  proper  to  speak  of  them  while  living  as  we 
would  feel  at  liberty  to  do  if  they  had  entered  into 
rest,  yet  we  will  take  the  responsibility  of  saying  as 
it  is,  that  they  are  closing  up  a  record  in  regard  to 
the  Willamette  University,  and  education  in  general 


18 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

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280 


OREGON  AKD  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


4  i 


in  Oregon,  of  which  their  descendants  to  all  genera- 
tions will  have  occasion  to  be  proud. 

There  are  many  other  gentlemen  who  have  become 
connected  with  the  Board  since  1850,  who,  by  their 
counsel,  their  liberality,  and  their  untiring  devotion 
to  all  the  interests  of  the  institution,  are  engraving 
their  names  upon  this  educational  monument  so 
deeply  that  all  the  revolutions  of  time  itself,  that 
great  obliterator  of  human  record,  will  not  be  able 
to  erase  them.  Identified  ^nth.  this  noble  enterprise, 
and  consecrated  to  the  truly  patriotic  and  Christian 
work  of  promoting  the  educational  interests  of  Ore- 
gon, and  filling  it  with  a  true  Christian  civilization 
while  living,  when  they  shall  have  filled  up  their 
earthly  record,  and  shall  have  passed  from  the  labors 
of  time  to  the  rewards  of  eternity,  their  names  will 
be  cherished  in  the  grateful  recollection  of  posterity, 
so  long  as  virtue  is  lovely,  and  patriotism,  phi- 
lanthropy, and  sanctified  learning  are  appreciated 
among  men. 

The  alumni  of  our  institution  would  be  creditable 
to  one  even  of  higher  pretensions.  Twenty-two  young 
gentlemen  and  twenty-eight  young  ladies  have  al- 
ready graduated  from  our  young  university,  having 
completed  the  regular  course.  They  have  now  gone 
forth  from  their  alma  mater  into  the  various  depart- 
ments of  active  life,  and,  with  scarcely  an  exception, 
p.re  now  doing  honor  to  themselves  and  to  the  insti- 
tution that  nourished  them.  They  are  to  be  found 
in  the  different  professions,  and  wherever  found  they 
occupy  enviable  positions.     As  aspirants  after  mili- 


TT 


OREGON  AND   ITS    INSTITUTIONS. 


281 


genera- 


become 
by  their 
ievotion 
igraving 
ment  so 
elf,  that 
be  able 
iterprise, 
Dhristian 
5  of  Ore- 
srilization 
up  tbeir 
he  labors 
Lines  will 
^Dosterity, 
sm,   phi- 
preciated 

[•editable 

wo  young 

have  al- 

y,  having 

now  gone 

IS  depart- 

xception, 

the  insti- 

be  found 

und  they 

fter  mili- 


tary and  naval  honors,  they  stand  an  equal  chance 
with  those  who  boaot  a  higher  parentage.  As  minis- 
ters of  the  Gospel,  some  of  them  are  winning  golden 
opinions  from  their  contemporaries,  and  others,  hav- 
ing shone  brightly  amid  the  dark  scenes  of  earth 
for  a  season,  have  passed  from  those  scenes  to  the 
glories  of  an  eternal  day.     Of  them  it  may  be  said, 

"Nor  fade  those  stars  in  oinp*y  night; 
They  hide  themselves  in  heaven's  own  light." 

The  university  is  under  the  patronage  of  the  Ore- 
gon Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  though  denominational,  is  not  strictly  sectarian. 
Great  care  is  taken  to  exert  within  its  walls  a  most 
wholesome  and  controlling  moral  and  religious  influ- 
ence, yet  efforts  to  give  a  sectarian  bias  are  carefully 
avoided.  The  result  is,  that  there  may  be  found 
within  the  walls  of  the  institution  students  from 
almost  all  the  Christian  Churches  in  the  land,  and 
already  young  men  have  graduated  from  our  college 
who  were  trained  in  other  communions,  and  who 
designed  to  enter  the  ministry  in  other  Churches 
so  soon  as  they  received  the  honors  of  our  institution. 
Three  excellent  young  men,  sons  of  an  Episcopalian 
clergyman,  claim  our  institution  as  their  alma  mater. 

As  a  result  of  the  religious  influence  exerted 
among  the  students,  there  are  occasional  seasons  of 
revival,  in  which  awakenings  and  conversions  often 
occur.  In  the  winter  of  1866-67,  under  the  labors 
of  Dr.  J.  II.  "Wythe,  there  was  a  very  gracious  re- 
vival, in  which  nearly  thirty  of  the  students  professed 
religion,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


282 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


i^   if 


I 


i-ii 
j'l 


m 
/'I 
I' ' 


Church.  An  incident  this,  truly  worthy  of  note  in 
the  history  of  our  rising  institution. 

The  university  is  furnished  with  an  ordinary  set 
of  philosophical  apparatus,  which  cost  $1,500.  The 
library,  however,  is  very  deficient.  It  contains  but 
six  hundi'ed  volumes,  and  these  mostly  composed  of 
a  very  indifferent  collection  of  books.  "We  have  also 
in  the  institution  a  cabinet  of  natural  history,  com- 
posed of  specimens  of  minerals,  fossils,  and  concli- 
ology,  furnished  by  the  Smithsonian  Institute  at 
Washington.  Contributions  to  all  these  departments 
are  needed  and  solicited. 

We  have  now  brought  up  the  history  of  our  univer- 
sity to  the  present  period  of  time,  and  have  endeav- 
ored to  present  it  so  minutely  that  the  reader  cannot 
fail  to  understand  and  appreciate  the  difficulties 
under  which  we  have  labored,  and  the  persevering 
efforts  which  we  have  been  obliged  to  put  forth  to 
bring  it  forward  to  its  present  state.  We  have  not 
been  dealing  in  fiction,  but  in  sober  facts,  while  we 
have  been  presenting  the  struggles  of  a  people,  poor 
as  to  money  and  few  in  numbers,  to  build  an  institu- 
tion to  meet  the  demands  of  teeming  humanity  on 
the  shores  of  the  great  Pacific.  We  have  shown  that 
we  have  not  been  laboring  in  vain,  nor  spending  our 
strength  for  naught,  but  that  every  inch  that  we 
have  gained  in  our  enterprise  we  have  been  able  to 
maintain.  We  have  shown  that  our  institution  has 
become  a  fixed  fact,  that  its  permanence  is  without 
doubt  secured.  We  have  shown  that  it  occupies  a 
most  commanding  and  eligible  position  in  the  city 


wr^ 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


283 


Lote  in 

iry  set 
.  The 
ns  but 
Dsed  of 
Lve  also 
f,  com- 
concli- 
tute  at 
rtments 

univer- 
endeav- 
:  cannot 
Bficulties 
severing 
forth  to 
lave  not 
srhile  we 
)le,  poor 

institu- 
anity  on 
)wn  that 
ding  our 
that  we 

able  to 
ition  has 

without 
jcupies  a 

the  city 


of  Salem,  the  established  capital  of  the  state  of  Ore- 
gon, and  near  the  center  of  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
valleys  upon  which  the  sun  ever  shone,  and  com- 
manding scenery  as  delightful  as  ever  greeted  the 
eye  of  man.  And  we  have  done  this  for  the  purpose 
of  eliciting  the  attention  of  patriots,  philanthropists, 
and  Christians,  and  especially  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  of  the  Atlantic  states,  whose  offspring 
we  are,  again  to  a  most  important  though  neglected 
portion  of  the  world,  and  to  the  necessities  of  an  in- 
fant people,  who,  from  a  disposition  to  do  all  they 
possibly  can  to  help  themselves,  are  entitled  to  the 
sympathies  of  all  those  who  are  abundantly  able  to 
afford  them  the  necessary  aid.  By  the  memory  of  a 
Lee,  who  died  for  Oregon's  advancement,  blessing 
his  adopted  country  with  his  latest  breath ;  and  of  a 
Shepherd,  who  fell  a  sacrifice  in  the  same  work ;  and 
a  Whitman  and  his  wife,  whose  love  for  Oregon 
could  jot  be  quenched  but  with  their  life's  blood; 
and  by  all  the  former  benevcJence  of  the  Church, 
when  for  Oregon  she  poured  out  her  money  like 
water,  and  by  a  thousand  considerations  which  might 
be  pressed,  allow  me,  dear  brethren  in  the  ministry 
and  in  the  membership  of  the  Church  througaout 
the  land,  to  commend  to  your  serious  considera- 
tion, to  3'our  benevolence,  and  to  your  prayers,  the 
interests  of  the  Willamette  University.  Lay  a  portion 
of  your  offerings  on  the .  altar  of  religious  education 
erected  on  the  Pacific  shores,  and  millions  hereafter 
will  rise  up  and  call  you  blessed. 


'! 


,     !  » 


284 


OREGON  AFD  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


A  br;ef  summary  of  facts. 


nil 


! 


pi 


1^ 


1 


The  attention  of  th  reader  is  called  expressly  to  the 
summary  of  facts  in  relation  to  the  state  of  Oregon 
which  is  presented  in  this  chapter  of  our  volume. 
The  surface  and  beautiful  scenery  of  the  country 
have  been  sufficiently  dwelt  upon  in  the  earlier  chap- 
ters of  the  book;  we  wish  now  to  present  another 
view  of  its  resources,  its  present  condition,  its  future 
prospects,  and  the  present  state  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  within  its  bounds. 

We  have  seen  that  its  area  embraces  one  hundred 
and  one  thousand  four  hundred  square  miles.  This 
multiplied  by  six  hundred  and  forty,  the  number  of 
acres  in  a  square  mile,  would  give  the  astonishing 
amount  of  sixty-four  million  eight  hundred  and  nine- 
ty-six thousand  acres  of  land.  Of  this  vast  number  of 
acres  we  have,  according  to  a  very  careful  estimate, 
but  three  hundred  and  thirty-seven  thousand  and 
lifty-eight  acres  under  cultivation.  It  is  estimated 
that  at  least  ten  million  acres  of  land  are  susceptible 
of  cultivation.  The  amount  of  land  now  cultivated 
produced  in  18G4  one  million  two  hundred  and  nine- 
teen thousand  and  thirty-four  bushels  of  wheat,  eighty- 
seven  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-one  bushels 
of  barley,  one  million  six  hundred  and  thirty-one 


■^T 


1 


OllEGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


285 


y  to  the 
Oregon 
volume, 
country 
er  chap- 
anotber 
Ds  future 
Methodist 

hundred 
8.    This 
imber  of 
onishing 
nd  nine- 
iinber  of 
jstiinate, 
and  and 
stiuiated 
Bceptible 
altivated 
nd  nine- 
t,  eighty- 
bushels 
liirty-one 


thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixty-two  bushels  of  oats, 
fifty-four  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty  bushels 
of  corn,  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  bushels  of  rye,  seventy  thousand  and  forty-five 
pounds  of  tobacco,  thirty-eight  thousand  and  thirty 
tons  of  hay,  two  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  one 
hundred  and  four  bushels  of  potatoes,  three  hundred 
and  eighteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighteen 
bushels  of  apples,  seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-six  pounds  of  wool. 
The  aggregate  of  that  year  of  wheat,  barley,  and 
oats  was  nearly  three  million  bushels.  Since  then 
every  year  it  has  been  much  larger,  and  in  1867  it 
■was  probably  not  less  than  five  million  bushels. 
Now,  with  the  ten  million  acres  of  arable  land,  it 
would  be  perfectly  practicable,  with  the  requisite 
amount  of  labor,  to  so  develop  the  agricultural  re- 
sources of  the  state  as  to  raise  twenty  times  as  much 
annually  as  has  ever  been  produced  in  a  single  year. 

The  kinds  of  grain,  etc.,  named  above  are  the  staple 
products  of  the  country,  and  can  be  raised  in  any 
quantities. 

The  adaptation  of  Oregon  to  the  culture  of  fruits 
is  worthy  of  special  notice.  There  can  be  no  ques- 
tion but  that  Oregon,  taken  as  a  whole,  is  decidedly 
the  best  fruit-growing  state  in  the  Union.  It  may  in 
truth  be  said  that  in  no  part  of  the  world  do  Iruit 
trees  grow  so  rapidly,  bear  so  early,  so  regularly,  and 
so  abundantly,  and  produce  fruit  of  so  large  size  and 
of  so  delicious  a  flavor.  This  is  true  not  only  with 
respect  to  apples,  but  also  with  a  great  variety  of 


286 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


n; 


W: 


r  4 

'         f 


fruits ;  pears,  plums,  cherries,  currants,  gooseberries, 
raspberries,  strawberries,  peaches,  and  grapes.  The 
last  two  mentioned  flourish  better  in  California  than 
in  Oregon,  but  with  respect  to  every  other  kind  men- 
tioned Oregon  is  every  way  superior  to  her  southern 
sister.  Fruit  trees  are  generally  as  large  at  three 
years  old  in  Oregon,  and  bear  as  abundantly,  as  they 
do  in  New  York  or  Ohio  at  six  or  eight  years  old. 
Oregon  has  realized  from  her  fruit  considerable  rev- 
enue. She  has  shipped  annually  to  San  Francisco, 
Victoria,  and  other  places,  more  than  one  hundred 
thousand  boxes  of  apples.  This  fruit  has  become  so 
abundant  all  through  the  state  that  it  can  be  gen- 
erally had  for  the  gathermg. 

Experiments  also  in  the  culture  of  flax,  hemp, 
tobacco,  and  hops  have  settled  the  question  fully 
that  the  soil  and  climate  are  most  admirably  adapted 
to  their  cultivation  and  growth.  The  amount  of  flax 
seed  produced  from  the  acre  averages  about  twenty- 
five  bushels,  and  already  extensive  works  for  the 
maimfacture  of  oil  have  been  established  at  Salem, 
under  the  direction  of  Edwin  Cartwright,  Esq., 
which  promises  to  be  a  source  of  income  to  its  pro- 
jectors, and  a  great  saving  to  the  state. 

The  stock-growing  qualities  of  the  state  deserve 
separate  mention.  Perhaps  there  are  few  portions 
of  the  world  where  there  are  so  many  cattle  and 
horses  and  mules  and  hogs  and  sheep  in  proportion 
to  the  population  as  roam  over  the  extended  pastures 
of  the  state  of  Oregon.  They  increase  more  rapidly, 
and  are  kept  with  less  expense,  than  in  any  other 


w^ 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


287 


state  of  which  we  have  any  knowledge.  During  one 
half  of  the  winter  they  do  not  require  to  be  fed  at  all, 
and  the  other  half  not  more  than  from  three  to  six 
weeks.  This  renders  stock  raising  one  of  the  most 
profitable  employments  in  which  men  can  engage,  as 
the  extensive  mining  population  south  and  east  and 
north,  together  with  the  cities  and  the  shipping  that 
visit  the  country,  constitute  an  abundant  market  for 
all  such  supplies  as  can  be  produced. 

The  timber  of  the  country  demands  a  separate 
paragraph.  Though  it  is  not  of  a  great  variety, 
yet  it  is  of  a  most  magnificent  growth  and  of  a  good 
quality.  The  forests  are  composed  of  fir,  cedar, 
spruce,  hemlock,  balm,  ash,  oak,  and  in  the  lower 
valleys  of  Southern  Oregon  myrtle,  maple,  and  chick- 
opin.  Some  of  the  kinds  grow  to  an  incredible  size. 
It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  find  fir  and  cedar,  pine 
and  spruce  trees  measuring  from  twenty-four  to 
thirty-six  feet  in  circumference,  and  three  hundred 
leet  high.  In  various  portions  of  the  country  there 
may  also  be  found  cotton-wood,  alder,  sumach,  wil- 
low, and  dogwood ;  and  the  laurel  is  also  indigenous  co 
the  country,  and  in  many  places  abounds.  These  vast 
forests  of  the  finest  of  timber  constitute  one  of  the 
most  extensive  and  inexhaustible  sources  of  revenue 
with  which  the  country  is  favored. 

The  mineral  resources  of  the  state  are  varied,  and 
of  paramount  importance.  Mines  of  various  kinds 
have  been  developed  in  almost  every  part  of  the  state, 
and  have  been  productive  of  vast  amounts  of  money. 
Placer  gold  diggings  have  been  extensively  worked 


iljl 


■  I  i 


i 


i 


288 


OKEGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


for  yeara  past  in  the  southern,  northern,  and  eastern 
portions ;  and  in  Jackson  County  alone,  in  Southern 
Oregon,  the  mines  which  have  been  worked  since 
1850  have  produced  annually  one  million  dollars. 
There  are  numerous  quartz  veins  of  silver  in  Southern 
and  Eastern  Oregon,  permanent  and  enduring  as  the 
mountains,  which  need  only  the  requisite  capital  for 
advantageous  working  to  produce  rich  returns.  It 
has  been  estimated  that  the  amount  of  gold  taken 
from  the  mines  of  Oregon  in  186G  was  eight  million 
dollars,  and  from  the  whole  Pacific  slope  belonging 
to  the  United  States  one  hundred  and  six  million 
dollars  the  same  year.  AVith  these  facts  before  the 
mind  it  will  not  be  regarded  as  visionary  if  we  say 
that  there  is  no  portion  of  the  Union  that  combines 
within  the  same  space,  to  an  equal  extent,  all  the 
varied  and  reliable  elements  of  wealth,  and  a  steadily 
increasing  prosperity. 

The  great  necessity  for  the  development  of  the 
capabilities  of  this  interesting  state  is  an  increase  of 
population.  The  present  population  of  the  state,  as 
near  as  can  be  estimated  from  the  census  of  former 
years,  is  about  eighty  thousand,  and  she  needs  and 
could  set  to  profitable  employment  one  million  of 
people,  and  is  capable  of  sustaining  ten  times  that 
number.  Possessing  the  capabilities  which  we  have 
delineated,  and  offering  the  strong  inducements  of  a 
bland  and  wholesome  climate,  and  of  inexhaustible 
stores  of  natural  wealth,  together  with  the  fact  that 
she  must  ultimately  command  a  large  share  of  the 
trade  of  Northern  Russia,  China,  and  the  islands  of 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


289 


(astern 
iithern 
[  sinco 
lollars. 
uthern 

as  the 
ital  for 
lis.  It 
I  taken 
million 
onj^inj^ 
million 
ore  tliG 
we  say 
•m  bines 

all  tlie 
pteadily 

of  tlie 
rease  of 
tate,  as 

former 
eds  and 
llion  of 
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7e  liavo 
Qts  of  a 
anstible 
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of  the 

ands  of 


the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  that  the  time  is  not  distant 
when  the  neighing  of  the  iron  liorse  will  be  heard,  as 
with  lightning  swiftness  he  com.s  rushing  down  from 
the  gorges  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  darting  along 
the  valleys — and  when  we  consider  also  that  the  God 
of  providence  never  could  have  intended  that  a  coun- 
try of  such  unrivaled  beauty,  such  amazing  fertility, 
such  salubrity  of  climate,  and  with  such  exhaustless 
stores  of  wealth  standing  in  her  forests,  and  embedded 
in  her  mountains,  should  remain  forever  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  Cayote  and  the  besotted  savage,  unde- 
veloped and  unblessed,  but  that  it  should  become 
the  home  of  civilization,  intelligence,  and  refine- 
ment, a  place  of  schools,  academies,  and  colleges,  of 
towns  and  cities,  and  courts  of  justice  and  temples  of 
worship,  and  manufactures,  and  institutions  of  charity 
and  benevolence,  and  teem  with  every  excellence 
that  the  religion  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  can 
confer  upon  such  a  land — there  can  be  no  question 
but  that  in  the  order  of  events  there  must  be,  and 
that  speedily,  a  vast  increase  of  population  not  or.ly 
in  Oregon,  but  in  "Washington  Territory,  and  in 
every  other  eligible  portion  of  this  extended  coast. 
The  increased  population  may  be  what  the  present 
is,  antl  wliat  it  has  been  from  the  beginning,  a  mixed 
nmltitude  from  many  lands  ;  but  the  Christianity  of 
the  Bible,  wielded  by  heaven's  appointed  instrumen- 
talities, shall  mold  the  moral  masses  until  they  shall 
be  prepared  to  receive  the  impress  of  true  religion. 
The  Churches  in  the  land  have  a  fearful  responsi- 
bility resting  upon  them.     They  should  lay  broad 


H".- 


fH 


f 


290 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


and  deep  the  ibundatioiiB  of  righteousness  and  god- 
liness and  peace  and  love.  They  shoidd  lay  aside 
all  party  spirit  and  party  strife  and  non-essentials, 
nnd  under  the  power  of  the  spirit  of  Christian  unity 
and  unreserved  consecration  to  a  course  of  self-deny- 
ing, j)rayerful,  vigorous,  and  persevering  labor  for 
God  and  talvation,  prepare  the  country  for  the  on- 
coming multitudes  which,  with  the  certainty  of  the 
rush  of  the  majestic  Columbia  westward  to  ocean's 
bed,  will  fiil  every  valley,  line  every  river,  adorn 
every  hill  side,  and  spread  over  every  extended  plain 
of  this  heaven- appointed  land.  God  has  ordained  it, 
and  he  will  surely  bring  it  to  pass. 

Many  persons  may  read  this  volume  who  will 
desire  more  information  in  regard  to  the  summer 
and  winter  seasons  of  Oregon  ;  and  for  the  benefit  of 
Buch  attention  is  called  to  the  following  remarks, 
which  were  penned  by  the  author  more  than  twenty 
years  ago,  and  which,  by  so  many  years  of  subsequent 
observation  and  experience,  have  been  confirmed  as 
correct : 

"  An  Oregon  winter  is  vastly  different  from  a  win- 
ter in  the  Eastern  States  occupying  the  same  degrees 
of  latitude,  mainly  for  the  reason  that  in  the  Eastern 
States  the  prevailing  winds  are  from  the  north  and 
west,  and  ou  the  Pacific  coast  they  are  from  the  south. 
There  is  no  definite  period  when  these  winter  winds 
in  Oregon  commence  blowing,  but  the  different  sea- 
sons vary  much  in  this  respect.  As  a  general  rule 
the  commencement  may  be  considered  as  about  the 
middle  of  November.      When  they  do   come  they 


I.   : 


' 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


291 


bring  witli  thorn  continued  falls  of  rain,  and  licneo 
the  period  of  their  continuance  is  properly  called  the 
rainy  eeason.  Thcj  'onerally  continue,  with  occa- 
Bionally  a  short  interv.il,  for  two  or  three  months,  and 
Bometinies  four,  a^or  which  there  is  usually  a  month 
of  warm,  pleasai.L  weather.  This  sometimes  comes 
in  February,  somctimos  in  March,  but  is  generally 
followed  by  three  or  four  weeks  of  chilly,  rainy 
weatlier  from  the  southwest. 

"  Though  the  winters  are  disagreeable  on  account 
of  the  humidity  of  the  atmosphere,  yet  the  cold  is 
very  moderate,  the  mercury  seldom  falling  as  low  as 
the  freezing  point.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  ground 
is  seldom  frozen;  and  as  to  skating  privileges,  there 
is  so  little  ice  in  the  country  that  it  is  seldom  that 
skates  can  be  found  in  the  market,  and  plowing  is 
often  done  during  a  great  portion  of  the  winter. 
Occasionally,  however,  there  is  an  exception  to  this. 

"  At  one  time  the  mercury  fell  in  the  Willamette 
Valley  to  five  degrees  below  zero,  and  at  the  Dalles 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Cascade  Mountains  to  fifteen 
degrees  below  zero.  This  intense  cold  lasted  at  that 
time  for  several  days,  and  the  lakes  were  all  frozen 
over,  and  the  Columbia  River  was  bridged  with  ice 
as  far  do^vn  as  the  mouth  of  the  "Willamette.  It  will 
be  correctly  inferred  from  what  has  been  said,  that, 
as  in  the  Eastern  States,  there  is  a  great  difierence  in 
the  winters  of  Oregon.  Some  are  vastly  more  rainy 
than  others;  but  one  half  of  the  winters  on  the 
Pacific  coast  are  not  characterized  by  as  much  falling 
weather  as  is  frequently  experienced  in  the  state  of 


-iilr':- 


292 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


i 


Id  '     !  I 


it 


\i] 


i\\ 


I 


iii 
111 


New  York,  and  are,  in  consequence  of  their  warm- 
ness,  decidedly  pleasant. 

"  If  the  winters  of  Oregon  are  rather  stormy  and 
■unpleasant,  the  summers  are  sufficiently  delightful 
amply  to  compensate  for  the  wintry  blasts.  In  the 
months  of  March  and  April  the  weather  usually  be- 
comes sufficiently  warm  to  start  vegetation,  so  that 
thus  early  the  prairies  become  beautifully  verdant, 
and  many  of  Flora's  choicest  gifts  appear,  to  herald 
the  approach  of  summer.  Now  the  summer  winds, 
which  are  from  the  west  and  north,  begin  to  prevail ; 
the  howl  of  the  winter  storm,  and  the  roar  of  the 
southern  winds,  are  hushed  to  silence ;  the  hills  and  val- 
leys are  gently  fanned  by  the  western  zephyr  from  the 
bosom  of  the  Pacific;  and  the  sun,  pouring  his  floods 
of  light  and  heat  from  a  cloudless  sky,  causes  nature, 
as  by  enchantment,  to  enrobe  herself  in  all  the  glories 
of  summer.  The  delightful  weather  thus  ushered  in 
continues  with  but  little  variation  throughout  the 
entire  summer,  with  occasional  showers ;  but  these 
are  much  '  like  angels'  visits,  few  and  far  between.' 

"  Generally,  in  the  months  of  July,  August,  and 
September  the  ground  becomes  exceedingly  dry ;  but 
the  rains  that  fall  in  April,  May,  and  June,  with  the 
moisture  which  is  deposited  in  the  heavy  dews  of  the 
valleys,  serve  to  insure  the  crops  by  bringing  the 
grains  and  vegetables  to  maturity. 

"The  temperature  of  the  summer  ranges  fror^  sixty- 
five  to  eighty  degrees  at  noon  in  the  shade,  but  the 
evenings  are  much  cooler.  There  is  no  such  thing  as 
sultry  weather  on  this  part  of  the  Pacific  coast.    The 


' 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


293 


niglits  ill  this  respect  are  admirable  for  rest  and 
sleep." 

From  a  personal  experience  and  observation  ex- 
tending through  a  period  of  twenty-nine  years,  we 
are  fully  prepared  to  express  the  opinion  that  the 
climate  of  Oregon  is  decidedly  favorable  to  the  pro- 
motion of  health.  And  why  should  it  not  be?  The 
temperature  is  remarkably  uniform,  particularly  in 
the  western  half  of  the  country.  Oregon  is  not  sub- 
ject to  the  evils  resulting  from  the  sudden  changes 
from  extreme  heat  to  extreme  cold,  as  are  most  of  the 
states  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  exhilarating  ocean  breeze,  which  fans  the  coun- 
try almost  every  day  during  the  summer,  contributes 
greatly  to  purify  the  atmosphere ;  and  this  circum- 
stance, in  connection  with  the  facts  that  there  is 
little  decaying  vegetable  matter,  and  but  few  dead 
Bwamps  and  marshes  to  exhale  their  poisonous 
miasma  to  infect  the  surrounding  regions,  are  suffi- 
cient to  show  that  this  country  must  be  the  abode  of 
.health,  and  that  human  life  is  as  likely  to  be  pro- 
tracted, and  men  and  women  as  likely  to  die  of  old 
age  here,  as  in  almost  any  other  portion  of  the 
world. 

But  every  country  has  its  defects,  and  this  is  not  free 
from  them.  It  is  neither  the  garden  of  Eden,  nor  is 
it  a  barren  waste.  That  it  is  a  land  of  valleys  and 
mountains,  of  rivers  and  streamlets,  of  mighty  forests 
and  extended  prairies,  of  a  salubrious  and  healthy 
climate,  a  rich  and  productive  soil,  of  abundant  de- 
posits of  mineral  wealth,  and  of  boundless  lumbering 


m '  1! 


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m. 


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s 

Iw 

PP^j 

^1 

1         1 

294 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


agricultural,  pastoral,'meclianical,  and  manufacturing 
resources,  the  foregoing  remarks  will  fully  show. 

Such  are  the  main  characteristics  of  the  field  of 
our  operations  as  a  Church  within  the  limits  of  the 
Oregon  Conference.  It  is  not  assuming  too  much  to 
say,  that,  for  the  moral,  intellectual,  and  religious 
culture  of  the  present  population,  and  of  the  multi- 
tudes who  are  destined  in  the  future  to  crowd  every 
part  of  that  extended  country,  there  rests  upon  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  a  very  great  responsi- 
bility. Her  system  in  every  respect  is  fully  adapted 
to  the  condition  of  the  country,  and  no  other  system 
extant  can  compete  with  hers.  Her  spiritual  Chris- 
tianity, her  itinerant  and  extemporaneous  preaching, 
her  songs  of  praise,  her  high  religious  experience,  and 
all  her  ancient  modes  of  worship,  and  especially  her 
camp-meetings,  to  which  the  bright,  clear  summers 
of  the  country  are  peculiarly  adapted,  cannot  fail,  if 
properly  brought  to  bear  upon  the  masses  by  a  con- 
secrated ministry  in  connection  with  a  sanctified 
literature,  to  check  the  progress  of  error  and  vice,  to 
counterbalance  the  influence  of  Skepticism  and 
Popery,  to  roll  back  defiant  Mormonism  and  Deism 
and  Spiritism  to  their  native  hell,  to  quicken  dead 
souls  into  spiritual  life,  and  to  preserve  the  country 
to  a  pure  religion,  a  true  patriotism,  substantial 
happiness,  and  a  perpetuated  prosperity. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  the  right  to 
lead  on  the  sacramental  hosts  of  God's  elect  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  arising  from  priority  of  occupancy  and 
organization.     She  was  the  first  established;  and  the 


r 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


295 


fail,  if 


locality  of  the  first  class,  whicli  was  organized  by 
Rev.  Jason  Lee,  in  the  fall  of  ISSrt,  was  at  a  point 
ten  miles  below  tlie  city  of  Salem;  but  subsequently 
the  class  removed  to  that  place,  so  that  really,  the 
Salem  Church  was  the  first  Christian  organization 
in  the  Oregon  Territory,  and  first  Protestant  Church 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  within  the  limits  of  the 
Oregon  Conference  would  be  replete  with  interest ; 
but  it  must  constitute  the  subject  of  a  future  volume, 
our  present  plan  not  permitting  us  even  to  introduce 
an  outline.  All  that  we  have  space  to  furnish  is  a 
simple  statement  of  the  present  condition  of  the 
Church  in  the  wide-spread  field  which  is  covered  by 
the  Oregon  Conference. 

"Within  this  field,  the  boundaries  of  which  have  been 
given  in  the  first  part  of  this  volume,  there  are  six 
presiding  elders '  districts,  three  of  which  are  entirely 
within  the  state  of  Oregon,  and  one,  the  Walla 
"Walla  District,  is  divided  by  the  line  between  Oregon 
and  "W^ashington  Territory,  and  the  other  two  lie 
within  the  limits  of  said  Territory.  Each  one  of 
these  districts,  if  we  except  the  Yakima  Indian  Mis- 
sion, is  much  larger  in  extent  of  country  than  many 
of  the  conferences  of  the  Atlantic  states. 

In  the  whole  conference  there  are  upward  of  fifty 

appointments,  besides  the  districts,  the  institutions  of 

learnhig,  and  the  Pacifio  Advocate.     There  were  but 

fifty-five  preachers  to  supply  this  vast  field  of  labor, 

and,  consequently,  many  portions  of  it  will  fail  to  be 

19 


m "' 


iib  ■ 


-jff9mim*mimn.,9i   n 


'Ui!: 


i^.^i 


35     :, 


296 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


reached  by  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  during  the  present  year.  Besides  the  fifty- 
five  effective  men  there  are  five  who  are  returned 
superannuated,  and  two  supernumerary,  making  in  all 
sixty-two  preachers,  embracing  those  who  are  yet  on 
trial.  There  are  sixty-eight  local  preachers,  four  thou- 
sand two  hundred  and  eighteen  members  and  proba- 
tioners, forty-three  houses  of  worship,  estimated  at  sev- 
enty-five thousand  dollars,  twenty -seven  parsonages, 
worth  thirty  thousand  dollars,  sixty-two  Sabbath- 
schools,  five  hundred  and  thirty-four  officers  and 
teachers,  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
nine  scholars,  and  thirteen  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  eighty-two  volumes  in  libraries. 

"When  compared  with  the  numerical  strength  of 
the  Church  in  many  other  conferences,  the  Oregon 
Conference  looks  indeed  very  small ,  but  considered 
in  proportion  to  the  population  of  the  state,  it  will 
compare  favorably  even  with  the  conferences  em- 
bracing New  York. 


.-^        :■, 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


297 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

EEMINISCENCES   OF  MISSIONARY  LIFE. 

It  was  on  the  18th  day  of  August,  1840,  that  Rev. 
Jason  Lee,  Dr.  Elijah  White,  myself,  and  an  Indian 
guide,  whom  we  designated  by  the  name  of  Captain, 
started  from  the  old  mission  premises  on  the 
Willamette  to  perform  a  missionary  tour  to  the 
Umpqua  Yalley,  then  to  white  men  but  little 
known.  Our  specific  object  was  to  explore  the 
country  watered  by  the  Umpqua  River,  with  a  view 
to  the  establishment  of  a  missionary  station  some- 
where within  its  limits.  Report  had  made  the  num- 
ber of  Indians  in  the  country  so  great  that  it  was 
thought  to  be  a  very  eligible  position  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  missionary  operations.  But  before 
deciding  in  reference  to  a  mission,  we  resolved  to 
examine  the  country  and  satisfy  ourselves.  The  mode 
of  traveling  we  adopted  was  on  horseback,  and  in 
addition  to  our  riding  horses,  we  had  three  for  carry- 
ing our  baggage,  and  four  spare  ones,  that  in  case  of 
the  loss  or  failure  of  any  we  might  not  be  left 
destitute.  This  was  a  precaution  in  those  days 
indispensably  necessary  to  be  taken  by  all  who 
would  secure  their  ultimate  safety  in  traversing  the 
extended  plains  of  this  wild  country.  As  this  was 
the  first  prairie  expedition  with  which  I  had  ever 


It 


Jll  ^1 


r" ! 


4.1  ^ 

'1    -, 
■  i.   ^ 


1! 


il 


f 


298 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


been  connected,  it  was  necessar}'  for  me  at  the  outset 
to  learn  the  peculiarities  of  horseback  traveling  on 
the  Pacific  coast.  Mr.  Lee  had  performed  two  jour- 
neys across  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  was  well  quali- 
fied to  be  my  instructor.  Watching  him  closely 
while  he  was  packing  our  bedding,  provisions,  and 
cooking  utensils  on  the  backs  of  the  horses,  I  soon 
observed  that  it  required  considerable  skill  and 
practice  to  wind  the  lash-rope  around  the  pack  and 
the  body  of  the  horse,  so  as  to  secure  the  burden  to 
the  back  of  the  animal  in  case  of  fright,  stumbling,  or 
running  against  any  obstruction,  all  of  which,  in  the 
process  of  binding  the  packs,  it  was  necessary  to 
guard  against  with  the  utmost  precaution. 

Mr.  Lee  magnified  his  office  as  our  instructor 
by  packing  the  three  horses  himself;  then  we  all 
mounted,  each  man  with  his  gun  athwart  the  pom- 
mel of  his  saddle,  and  our  little  cavalcade  put  off  on  a 
moderate  gallop  across  the  beautiful  and  fertile 
plain  lying  in  the  rear  and  south  of  the  mission 
premises.  Traveling  ten  miles  to  the  south,  at  noon 
we  reached  the  place  where  the  city  of  Salem  now 
stands,  then  known  by  the  Indian  name  of  Cheme- 
kete.  Here  the  Oregon  Mission  had  broken  ground 
preparatory  to  the  erection  of  a  saw  and  grist  mill, 
and  here  it  was  in  contemplation  to  establish  the 
Mission  Manual  Labor  School.  This  locality, 
though  almost  a  perfect  solitude  so  far  as  the 
existence  of  humanity  was  concerned,  appeared  to  us 
to  be  one  of  the  most  delightful  that  we  had  ever 
seen.     The  extensive  and  fertile  plains  surrounding 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


299 


e  outset 
ling  on 
7^0  jour- 
11  quali- 
closely 
ns,  and 
,  I  soon 
ill  and 
ick  and 
rden  to 
jling,  or 
I,  in  the 
3sary  to 

istructor 

.  we  all 

he  pom- 

off  on  a 

[   fertile 

mission 

at  noon 

era  now 

Cheme- 

ground 

fist  mill, 

)lish  the 

locality, 

as   the 

red  to  ns 

bad  ever 

ounding 


it,  the  enchanting  nature  of  its  scenery,  and  the  fine 
water  privilege,  afforded  by  the  beautiful  rivulet 
meandering  through  it,  rendered  it,  in  our  judg- 
ment, a  place  of  great  future  importance.  Surveying 
this  beautiful  locality,  and  indulging  in  many  con- 
jectures in  regard  to  the  probable  time  that  would 
elapse  before  its  then  silent  and  broad  area  would 
become  the  theater  of  busy  life,  and  a  flourishing  city 
with  its  din  and  noise  occupy  the  fields  of  solitude  by 
which  we  were  surrounded,  we  proceeded  on  our 
course  through  a  country  beautifully  diversified  with 
rising  grounds,  varying  from  the  gentle  undulation 
to  the  majestic  hill,  and  fertile  valleys,  variegated 
with  here  and  there  a  grove  of  yellow  and  white  oak, 
and  now  and  then  a  stately  fir  which  had  braved  the 
fury  of  a  thousand  storms,  and  at  nightfall  we  en- 
camped near  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  "Willamette 
Kiver,  called  "  Santiam's  Fork."  "We  reposed  for  the 
night  under  the  wide-spread  branches  of  a  majestic  fir, 
and  our  trusty  horses  cropped  the  wild  grass  of  the 
prairie  around  us  while  we  slept.  Six  o'clock  the 
next  morning  found  us  prepared  to  resume  our  jour- 
ney, and  at  twelve  we  had  traveled  twenty  miles 
over  a  beautiful  prairie  country  now  densely  popu- 
lated, then  without  an  inhabitant,  when  we  stopped 
for  dinner  on  the  bank  of  the  Callapooia  Creek. 
Repacking  our  animals  after  resting  two  hours,  we 
traveled  in  the  evening  about  ten  miles,  and 
encamped  for  the  night  by  the  side  of  a  small  pool 
of  water  in  the  center  of  a  large  prairie.  The 
country  through  which  we  passed  was  flat,  low,  and 


t 


.i 


iJW.WJ'iH"  "-"I 


KPt^iB^J^l^liWl  : 


300 


OEEGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


m 

itkt  •  'i|  i 


subject  to  inundations.  The  prairies  had  been  all 
overrun  with  fire  a  short  time  previous,  and  it  was 
with  difficulty  that  we  could  find  sufficient  feed  for 
our  horses.  However,  •"•ound  the  pool  the  grass 
was  so  green  that  the  f  had  passed  it  by,  and  this 
rendered  it  a  suitable  pia^e  to  spend  the  night,  par- 
ticularly for  our  animals.  There  was  something 
very  peculiar  about  this  pool.  It  embraced  a  super- 
ficial area  of  some  ten  rods  of  ground,  with  no  visible 
inlet  or  outlet,  and  it  was  several  miles  from  any 
other  water,  though  the  water  of  the  pool  was  nearly 
upon  a  level  with  the  surrounding  land.  It  was 
also  literally  filled  with  frogs,  there  being  at  least 
five  to  every  square  foot. 

We  spread  down  our  bed  of  blankets  where  the 
grass  was  abundant,  but  soon  after  lying  down  we 
were  disturbed  by  a  somewhat  novel  circumstance.  I 
began  to  feel  a  gentle  stir  directly  under  my  back, 
though  for  some  time  I  made  no  mention  of  it,  not 
yet  deciding  what  it  might  be.  But  as  the  effort 
beneath  me  continued,  as  though  some  living  being 
was  tlirown  into  convulsions  through  suffocation,  I 
at  length  cried  out  that  there  was  some  living 
creature  under  my  blanket.  The  "captain,"  un- 
derstanding, exclaimed,  "  A  snake !  a  snake !  "  and 
knowing  that  rattlesnakes  were  no  uncommon  thing 
on  these  prairies,  and  not  fancying  one  as  my  bed- 
fellow, I  sprang  to  my  feet,  seized  my  blankets,  and 
scattered  my  bed  around  the  prairie,  when,  to  the 
amusement  of  our  party,  out  jumped  a  large  bull- 
frog, who  made  his  best  way  back  to  the  pool. 


^^ 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTIT  QTIONS. 


301 


After  the  excitement  occasioned  by  this  little  episode 
passed  away  we  again  composed  ourselves  to  sleep, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  twentieth  arose  invigo- 
rated, and  were  moving  on  at  an  early  hou^ ;  and 
traveling  twenty-five  miles,  we  found  ourselves  at  one 
o'clock  on  the  bank  of  the  Willamette  River,  at  the 
place  where  we  designed  to  cross  that  stream,  our 
trail  having  been  thus  far  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
Examining  the  ford  we  found  the  river  too  deep  and 
the  current  too  strong  to  admit  of  our  crossing  our 
pack-horses  in  safety,  and  discovering  an  Indian 
below  us  in  his  canoe,  we  beckoned  him  to  come  up 
to  us,  which  he  accordingly  did.  He  appeared  very 
shy  at  first,  was  entirely  naked,  not  having  so  much 
clotliing  as  an  apron  of  fig-leaves  ;  i)ut  after  a  while 
we  induced  him  to  take  our  things  into  his  canoe  and 
carry  them  across  the  river.  Dr.  White  accompanied 
him,  while  Mr.  Lee,  myself,  and  the  captain  crossed 
over  the  horses.  The  water  was  up  to  the  animals' 
backs,  and  the  current  so  strong  that  we  feared  it 
would  bear  us  down  ;  but  with  the  exception  of  get- 
ting thoroughly  wet,  we  gained  the  opposite  shore 
without  difficulty.  Here  the  most  luxurious  grass 
covered  the  prairie,  and  we  allowed  our  horses  an 
hour  to  avail  themselves  of  its  benefits,  while  at  the 
same  time  we  refreshed  ourselves  from  our  diminish- 
ing stock  of  viands,  and  then  continued  our  way  over 
a  delightful  plain  known  as  the  Grand  Prairie  for 
fifteen  miles,  and  at  night  stopped  on  the  California 
trail  at  a  place  which,  by  the  numerous  fires  which 
had  been  built  around,  and  other  signs  which  we  dis- 


302 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIOlfS. 


It 


covered,  we  judged  liad  been  recently  occupied  by  a 
band  of  Indians.  None,  however,  had  the  temerity 
to  show  themselves.  Friday,  21,  we  resumed  our 
march,  and  traveling  about  twenty  miles  over  a  rolling 
country,  presenting  almost  every  variety  of  scenery, 
we  halted  for  dinner  on  a  stream  called  "Bridge 
River,"  on  account  of  a  log  bridge  having  been  thrown 
across  it  by  some  California  party.  This  stream  runs 
in  a  deep  cut,  and  but  for  the  bridge  would  have  been 
difficult  to  cross.     It  is  now  known  as  Siuselaw. 

In  the  afternoon  we  crossed  the  Callapooia  Mount- 
ains, which  consist  of  a  vast  assemblage  of  overgrown 
hills  thrown  together  in  wild  confusion,  and  covered 
with  a  heavy  forest  of  fir  and  cedar  trees.  The  latter 
is  the  most  stately  and  majestic  timber  of  the  kind 
which  I  had  ever  seen.  On  beholding  it  one  is  re- 
minded of  the  Scripture  account  of  the  cedars  of  Leb- 
anon. It  required  three  hours  to  cross  this  mountain, 
and  as  we  were  descending  it  to  the  south  the  fire  was 
making  sad  havoc  with  the  fine  timber  with  which 
its  sides  were  adorned.  In  some  places  it  raged  so 
fiercely  along  the  trail  as  to  render  it  quite  difficult 
for  us  to  pass ;  but  urging  our  way  along,  we  suc- 
ceeded at  sundown  in  reaching  Elk  River,  at  the  foot 
of  the  mountain,  and  crossing  over,  we  camped  for 
the  night  on  a  beautiful  plain  on  its  south  bank. 

Saturday,  22,  leaving  the  California  trail,  we  took 
a  path  that  bore  further  to  the  west,  following  the 
direction  of  the  Elk  River.  During  the  day  we 
passed  over  an  exceedingly  mountainous  country. 
Some  of  the  mountains  were  rocky  and  precipitous, 


I",  1 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


303 


and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  we  were  able  to 
keep  our  balance  on  the  narrow  path  among  the 
rocks  that  in  itn  zigzag  course  marked  our  way  14)  and 
down  their  almost  perpendicular  sides ;  but  urging 
our  way  along,  now  plunging  into  the  deep  ravine, 
now  scaling  the  high  ledge  of  rocks,  now  climbing 
the  precipitous  mountains,  now  descending  into  the 
dark  valley,  and  fording  Elk  River  over  the  slippery 
rocks,  where  the  water  came  to  our  saddle  seats  not 
less  than  five  times,  at  two  P.  M.  we  found  ourselves 
on  the  bank  of  the  Umpqua  River,  directly  opposite 
a  trading  fort  owned  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany. We  stripped  our  horses  of  their  packs  and 
saddles,  and  turned  them  loose  to  roam  at  large  on 
the  nortli  side  of  the  river  until  we  performed  a 
voyage  to  the  coast,  and  crossing  over  in  a  canoe,  we 
were  kindly  received  at  t..^  fort  by  an  old  French- 
man having  charge  of  it  by  the  name  of  Gonea. 
We  were  made  welcome  to  all  the  comforts  the 
place  aflforded,  and  a  king  could  not  have  done 
better.  This  Frenchman  lived  with  an  Indian  woman, 
whom  he  called  his  wife,  and  who  belonged  to  a  tribe 
that  resided  on  the  Pacific  coast,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Umpqua  River. 

A  liberal  supply  of  boiled  pork  and  potatoes,  fur- 
nished us  by  our  Indian  hostess,  and  a  good  night's 
rest  on  a  bed  of  Mackinaw  blankets,  wonderfully 
recruited  us  after  the  excessive  fatigues  of  our  jour- 
ney. We  found  no  Indians  around  the  fort,  except  a 
small  band  of  twenty-five  Callapooias  from  the  Willa- 
mette Yalley.     These,  on  Sunday,  the  23d,  we  col- 


li':' 


In 


804 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


lected  in  one  of  tlie  huts  within  the  Btockades  of  tlio 
fort,  and  held  religious  service  with  thorn,  Mr.  Leo 
addressing  them  concerning  the  things  that  belonged 
to  their  peace ;  and  the  chief,  who  understood  the 
jargon,  interpreted  it  to  his  people.  As  we  expected 
to  return  by  the  way  of  his  country,  we  engaged  to 
meet  him  and  his  people  on  a  certain  day  and  give 
them  another  talk. 

On  Monday  morning,  the  24th,  Dr.  White  and  the 
captain  left  us  and  returned  to  the  Willamette,  and 
Mr.  Lee  and  myself  went  about  making  preparationn 
to  visit  the  Indians  at  the  mouth  of  the  Umpqua 
Eiver.  We  had  been  informed  by  Mr.  Gonea  that 
there  would  be  great  danger  ii  our  going  among 
them  alone,  and  indeed  he  seemed  to  stand  in  tho 
utmost  fear  of  them.  Of  their  hostility  to  the  whites, 
and  especially  the  Americans,  we  were  ourselves 
aware,  as  they  had  in  more  than  one  instance  at- 
tacked them,  and  only  a  few  years  before  they  had 
cut  off  an  entire  party  of  fourteen  men  who  were 
coming  through  from  California  to  Oregon,  except 
three  persons,  who  fortunately  escaped  to  tell  the  story 
of  the  massacre  of  their  companions.  But  Provi- 
dence seemed  to  favor  our  design  of  going  among 
them.  On  Sunday  afternoon  a  brother  of  the  French- 
man's wife,  with  a  small  party  of  Indians  from  the 
coast,  arrived  at  the  fort,  having  come  up  the  river 
in  a  canoe.  After  having  an  interview  with  them, 
we  proposed  to  the  Frenchman  that  his  wife,  who, 
we  learned,  was  a  relative  of  the  principal  chiefs  of 
the  tribe,  should  take  us  under  her  protection,  and 


t  ■' 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


305 


with  her  brother  and  liis  party  conduct  us  to  her 
people.  To  this  the  Frenchman  consented,  saying, 
"Now  I  think  the  danger  small,  before  it  was  great." 
According  to  arrangements  which  were  mainly  su- 
perintended by  the  Indian  woman,  under  whoso  pro- 
tection we  had  ]>laced  ourselves,  at  ten  o'clock  on 
Monday,  the  24th,  we  pit  out  with  our  light  canoo 
into  the  dashing  current  of  the  Umpqua.  We  ran  a 
number  of  narrow  t^hoots  where  the  current  was  at 
least  twelve  knots  an  hour,  and  in  some  instances 
shot  past  the  rocks  which  projected  into  the  stream 
with  the  velocity  of  an  arrow ;  but  our  Indians,  of 
whom  there  were  seven,  showed  themselves  to  be  ia 
their  proper  element  by  the  astonishing  dexterity 
with  which  they  ran  the  dangerous  rapids  with  which 
the  river  abounds.  Fifteen  miles  below  the  fort  the 
river  rushes  over  a  ledge  of  rocks  in  a  number  of 
narrow  channels,  and  falling  about  twenty-five  feet 
in  so  many  rods,  forms  a  fine  salmon  fishery.  Here 
we  found,  crowded  into  four  small  lodges,  about  one 
hundred  Indians,  exceedingly  squalid  in  their  appear- 
ance, and  subsisting  entirely  on  fish.  We  remained 
here  but  a  few  moments,  and,  passing  on,  nine  of  them, 
five  men  and  four  women,  jumped  into  a  large  canoe 
for  the  purpose  of  accompanying  us  down  the  river. 

Having  thus  increased  our  company  more  than 
half  we  proceeded  on  our  voyage,  contemplating  the 
barbarous  appearance  of  both  animate  and  inanimate 
nature  around  us  until  the  gathering  shadows  re- 
minded us  that  night  approached,  and  running  om* 
canoes  in  along  the  right  hand  shore,  we  at  length 


I' 


I; 

1) 


If 


|t.!i'    « 


306 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


:  11' 


.r  ■ 


I'f^ 


found  a  place  suflficiently  broad  from  the  river  to  the 
base  of  the  mountain  to  admit  of  our  encamping,  and 
here  we  pitched  our  tent  for  the  night. 

Our  Indians  soon  struck  up  two  good  fires,  one  for 
themselves,  and  one  for  us.  Mr.  Lee  and  myself 
prepared  our  supper,  our  female  friend  providing  ua 
with  a  choice  piece  of  salmon,  which  she  had  broiled, 
and  which,  with  bread,  butter,  and  tea,  constituted 
our  humble  repast.  Never  did  we  partake  of  a  sup- 
per with  a  better  relish. 

While  we  were  enjoying  it,  our  newly-made  neo- 
phytes prepared  supper  for  themselves,  and  it  was 
not  a  little  interesting,  to  one  who  was  not  familiar 
with  such  scenes,  to  see  them  prepare  their  food. 
Their  supper  consisted  of  fresh  salmon  and  a  species 
of  hazel-nut,  which  is  found  in  the  country  in  great 
abundance.  Having  made  a  suitable  fire,  they  com- 
menced the  operation  of  cooking  their  salmon.  This 
was  performed  in  the  following  manner.  They  all 
provided  themselves  with  sticks  about  three  feet 
long,  pointed  at  one  end  and  split  at  the  other. 
They  then  apportioned  the  salmon,  each  one  receiv- 
ing a  large  piece,  and  filling  it  with  splinters  to  pre- 
vent its  falling  to  pieces  when  cooking,  placed  it 
with  great  care  into  the  forked  end  of  the  stick,  and 
fastened  the  forks  together  with  a  small  withe.  Then 
placing  themselves  around  the  fire  so  as  to  describe 
a  circle,  they  stuck  the  pointed  end  of  the  sticks  into 
the  ground  a  short  distance  from  the  fire,  inclining 
the  top  toward  the  flames  so  as  to  bring  the  salmon 
in  contact  with  the  heat,  thus  forming  a  kind  of 


1    V. 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


^07 


pyramid  of  salmon  over  the  whole  fire.  One  side 
being  cooked  the  other  was  turned  to  the  heat,  and 
speedily  the  whole  was  prepared  for  eating.  Stones 
were  then  provided  for  the  purpose  of  cracking  nuts, 
and  all  being  seated  on  the  ground  the  eating  process 
commenced.  The  extreme  novelty  of  their  appear- 
ance, the  nut  cracking,  the  general  merriment,  the 
apparent  jokes,  ready  repartees,  and  bursts  of  laugh- 
ter were  sufficient  to  have  excited  the  risibilities  of 
even  a  Romish  priest,  however  phlegmatic.  And 
certainly  a  more  jovial  set  of  fellows  than  these  sons 
of  nature  I  have  never  seen.  They  were  as  untamed 
as  the  elk  they  chase  over  their  mountains,  but  they 
feasted  upon  their  fish  and  nuts  with  as  much  of  a 
zest,  and  with  as  much  seeming  satisfaction  to  them- 
selves, as  the  most  fashionable  and  refined  party  that 
ever  graced  the  gay  saloon  ever  enjoyed  while  re- 
galing themselves  with  the  most  costly  viands.  Sup- 
per being  over,  we  called  the  attention  of  the  Indians 
while  we  engaged  in  our  evening  devotions.  I  sang 
a  hymn,  and  then  we  both  engaged  in  prayer,  the 
Indians  all  kneeling  with  us,  and  evidently  manifest- 
ing a  peculiar  interest  in  what  was  passing  before 
them.  And  thought  I,  Why  should  they  not  feel 
interested  ?  Never  before  had  the  death-like  silence 
which  reigned  along  this  valley  been  broken  by  the 
voice  of  prayer  and  praise.  The  somber  shades  of 
moral  darkness,  which  had  ever  cast  a  melancholy 
gloom  upon  the  people,  had  never  before  been  pene- 
trated by  the  rays  of  Gospel  light.  The  heralds  of 
mercy,  who  bring  glad  tidings  of  good  things  to  those 


fc:.    -.v 


Hi, 

»!■ 
Fit. 

it 


|i': 


I: 
I 


-•ff^!Bm!yijK\' 


308 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


iJ 


wlio  wander  upon  the  dark  mountains,  had  never 
before  set  their  feet  upon  these  hostile  shores.  After 
prayer  Mr.  Lee  addressed  the  Indians  through  our 
interpreter  in  relation  to  the  objects  of  our  visit,  and 
they  listened  as  to  a  story  calculated  to  excite  the 
utmost  wonder,  but  expressed  great  satisfaction  at 
what  they  had  heard.  At  ten  o'clock  we  lay  down 
upon  our  bed  of  blankets  in  quietness,  slept  in  peace, 
arose  in  the  morning  in  safety,  and  breaking  our  fast 
on  bread  and  salmon,  proceeded  on  our  way  along 
the  widening  Umpqua  toward  the  great  Pacific,  and 
at  noon  arrived  among  the  Indians  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river. 

We  found  the  Indians  living  in  three  small  vil- 
lages, the  larger  being  on  the  south,  and  the  other 
two  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  Tlie  whole  num- 
ber, including  some  that  were  absent,  as  near  as  we 
could  ascertain,  amounted  to  about  three  hundred 
men,  women,  and  children.  About  one  third  of  the 
tribe  had  gone  into  the  mountains  for  tlie  purpose  of 
gathering  berries.  It  was  thought  best  by  our  guar- 
dian and  adviser  to  pitch  our  tent  some  half  a  mile 
distant  from  the  larger  village,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river,  near  which,  she  told  us,  the  chiefs  and 
their  people  would  meet  us  to  hold  a  talk. 

Though  the  news  of  our  arrival  quickly  flew  to  all 
the  lodgei},  none  of  the  people  came  near  us  until  we 
sent  them  a  message  that  we  had  come  and  desired 
to  see  them  at  our  tent.  Complying  with  om*  invita- 
tion, three  chiefs  and  fifty-five  of  their  people,  mostly 
men,  came  out  to  see  us.     Seating  themselves  in  tho 


HHI 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


309 


and 


Band  in  the  form  of  a  crescent  in  front  of  our  tent, 
the  chiefs  very  ceremoniously  informed  us  through 
our  interpreter  that  "  they  were  ready  to  liear  what 
we  had  to  say."  Mr.  Lee  then  addressed  them  on 
the  objects  of  our  visit.  He  tokl  them  whence  we 
came;  how  long  it  took  us  to  perform  our  voyage 
from  our  native  land  to  their  country ;  that  we  had 
many  friends  at  home  who  dcaired  us  not  to  leave 
them ;  that  a  sense  of  duty  had  brought  us  to  their 
country  to  tell  them  about  Jesus  Christ;  that  in 
coming  to  them  we  had  been  exposed  to  a  thousand 
dangers,  but  had  been  preserved  in  the  midst  of 
them  all  by  the  "  Great  Chief  above ;"  that  we  had 
heard  much  about  them  and  the  Indians  generally  in 
the  country,  and  that  we  were  glad  now  to  be  per- 
mitted to  see  them  for  ourselves,  and  become  ac- 
quainted with  them.  He  then  inquired  of  them 
whether  they  approved  of  our  visit,  and  whether 
they  desired  to  be  instructed  ? 

After  a  few  moments'  consultation  among  them- 
selves, the  chiefs,  one  after  another,  arose,  and  ad- 
vancing to  within  six  feet  of  Mr.  Lee,  addressed  him 
in  substance  as  follows,  there  being  but  little  differ- 
ence in  their  speeches:  "Great  Chief,  we  are  very 
much  pleased  with  our  lands.  "VVe  love  this  world. 
We  wish  to  live  a  great  while.  We  very  much  desire 
to  become  old  men  before  we  die.  It  is  true  we  liave 
killed  many  people,  but  we  have  never  killed  any 
but  bad  people.  Many  lies  have  been  told  about  us. 
We  have  been  called  a  bad  people,  and  we  are  glad 
that  you  have  come  to  see  us  for  yourselves.     We 


If 
U 


l\ 


1^ 


310 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


'^m 


3,i( 


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HjH 

J^  ^ 

f^      1^1 

at 

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m 

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p 

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■ 

have  seen  some  white  people  before,  but  they  came  to 
get  our  beaver.  None  ever  came  before  to  instruct 
us.  We  are  glad  to  see  you ;  we  want  to  learn ; 
we  wish  to  throw  away  all  our  bad  things  and  be- 
come good."  They  spoke  very  loud,  and  tlieir  ges- 
tures v;ere  remarkably  violent.  Sometimes  in  the 
course  of  their  speeclies  they  would  rise  upon  tiptoe, 
with  both  hands  stretched  high  above  their  heads,  and 
then  throw  themselves  forward  until  their  faces  al- 
most touched  the  ground.  After  they  concluded 
their  speeches  they  returned  to  their  places  in  the 
sand,  and  told  us  that  they  would  then  hear  us  more 
particularly  on  the  subject  of  our  mission. 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  Lee,  who  was  no  singer  him- 
self, I  stepped  out  into  an  open  space  and  struck  into 
Heber's  Missionary  Hymn, 

"From  Greenland's  icy  mountains,"  etc., 

and  while  singing  the  first  verse  the  Indians  all 
seated  themselves  on  the  sand,  forming  three  fourths 
of  a  circle  around  us,  and  then  with  the  most  fixed 
attention  listened  to  the  remaining  part  of  the  hymn. 
We  then  both  engaged  in  prayer,  all  the  Indians 
kneeling  with  us,  and  invoked  upon  our  enterprise 
the  blessing  of  Almighty  God.  Though  our  congre- 
gation was  totally  ignorant  of  the  true  nature  of  wor- 
ship, yet  the  scene  to  us  was  deeply  affecting.  Never 
before  had  they  thus  bowed ;  never  before  had  they 
heard  the  voice  of  prayer.  We  then  preached  to 
them  the  Gospel  as  well  as  we  could  through  the 
jargon  of  the  country,  giving  them  an  account  of  tho 


-ffj 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


311 


creation  of  the  world,  the  fall  of  man,  the  advent, 
Bufferings,  death,  resurrection,  ascension,  and  inter- 
cession of  Christ  to  save  mankind  from  sin,  death, 
and  hell,  all  of  which  was  interpreted  to  her  people 
by  our  female  friend.  We  cherished  the  fond  belief 
that,  for  the  first  time  in  their  history,  a  few  rays  from 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness  had  pierced  the  gloom  of 
the  long  and  dismal  night  which  had  hung  around 
them.  The  chiefs  expressed  their  approbation  of 
what  they  had  heard,  saying  "  it  was  all  very  good," 
and  that  "  they  had  never  heard  such  things  before." 
They  then  all  dispersed  and  went  to  their  lodges,  and 
Mr.  Lee  and  myself  prepared  and  took  our  supper 
of  salmon  and  bread,  the  last  of  which  our  wives  had 
prepared  for  us  ten  days  before.  After  the  shades 
of  the  evening  had  gathered  around  us,  the  Indians 
all  returned  to  our  tent,  for  the  purpose,  as  they  told 
us,  of  "  hearing  us  talk  to  God"  previous  to  our  lying 
down  for  the  night.  They  collected  wood  and  built 
a  large  fire,  and  then  seated  themselves  around  it. 
I  then  sang  another  hymn,  after  which  we  again  en- 
gaged in  prayer.  As  they  still  lingered  around,  Mr. 
Lee  gave  them  another  lesson  from  the  word  of  the 
Lord,  after  which  they  reluctantly  scattered  away  to 
their  wigwams,  leaving  us  to  repose  ourselves  on  our 
bed  of  blankets  spread  upon  the  sand. 

Mr.  Lee  having  been  accustomed  to  such  experi- 
ence slept  soundly  during  the  night ;  but  the  strange 
scenes  of  the  preceding  day,  the  circumstances  at- 
tending the  night,  and  the  remembrance  that  we 

were  lying  at  the  mercy  of  those  who  had  proved 

20 


i 


t-i. 


if 


312 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


1'',  (, 


M 


M 


IS 


themselves  among  the  most  treacherous  of  savages, 
produced  such  an  effect  upon  my  nerves  as  to  destroy- 
all  inclination  to  close  my  eyes.  From  hearing 
noises  outside,  I  frequently  drew  aside  the  tent  cloth 
and  cast  a  look  around,  and  in  every  instance  ob- 
served that  our  protectress  and  her  brother  and  an- 
other Indian,  who  had  lived  among  the  whites  but 
had  returned  to  his  people,  were  keeping  up  a  large 
fire  in  front  of  our  tent,  which  threw  its  light  back 
into  the  dense  forest  which  lay  in  our  rear.  Sometimes 
they  were  in  earnest  conversation ;  then  they  would 
pile  on  the  dry  sticks  until  the  flames  would  ascend 
to  the  height  of  ten  feet,  and  enabled  them  to  dis- 
tinguish every  object  within  a  circle  of  twenty  rods. 
This  they  continued  during  the  whole  night,  neither 
of  them  for  a  moment  attempting  to  sleep.  That 
night  of  anxiety  wore  away  and  the  morning  dawned, 
and  none  of  the  Indians,  to  our  knowledge,  had 
shown  any  disposition  to  molest  us  during  the  night. 
After  our  breakfast  was  over,  they  all  collected 
again,  and  seating  themselves  on  the  sand,  expressed 
a  wish  once  more  to  witness  our  devotions  before 
parting  with  us.  Accordingly  we  again  offered  up 
our  fervent  prayers  to  the  Desire  of  nations  in 
their  behalf.  After  prayers  we  addressed  to  them 
a  few  parting  words,  and  were  preparing  to  leave 
tliem,  when  one  of  tlie  chiefs,  standing  on  his  knees, 
began  to  speak.  He  said  he  was  very  glad  that  we 
had  come  to  see  them ;  that  their  hearts  toward  ua 
were  like  our  hearts  toward  them ;  that  he  wanted 
us  to  continue  with  them  anotJier  day,  and  tell  them 


^ 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


313 


more  about  God ;  that  tliey  had  heard  about  us,  and 
had  been  told  we  were  a  bad  people ;  that  they  were 
glad  to  Bee  us  for  themselves,  and  were  convinced 
that  what  they  had  heard  was  a  lie ;  that  they  now 
believed  us  to  be  a  good  people,  and  that  they  meant 
to  be  good  also.  When  they  were  informed  that 
probably  the  next  summer  one  of  us  would  come  and 
visit  them  again  they  were  exceedingly  well  pleased, 
and  said,  "  It  is  very  good,  we  will  be  glad  to  see 
you." 

Having  fully  satisfied  ourselves  with  regard  to 
the  number,  disposition,  and  accessibility  of  the 
Indians  in  this  solitary  region,  we  told  the  chiefs 
that  we  must  go,  and  the  people  all  came  out  to 
witness  our  departure.  Distributing  among  them  a 
few  presents,  on  Wednesday  morning  at  nine  o'clock, 
driven  forward  by  the  strokes  of  the  Indian  paddle, 
we  were  rounding  a  high  bluff  situated  on  the  south 
side  of  the  mouth  of  Umpqua  River,  and  forming  one 
side  of  a  small  bay  in  the  bosom  of  which  the  Indian 
village  we  had  just  left  v/as  situated,  and  which  was 
fast  disappearing  behind  the  point  of  the  projecting 
cliff.  Crossing  tlie  mouth  of  the  river,  which  is 
about  one  mile  wide,  we  stopped  a  few  monicnts  on 
the  north  side  to  lay  in  a  little  provision,  and  give 
ourselves  an  o]>])ortunity  to  take  some  observations 
of  the  surroundinc;  countrv. 

Contemi)lating  the  probable  period  when  the 
barbarism  of  botli  animate  and  inanimate  nature 
along  this  river  shall  give  place  to  civilization  and 
Christianity,  we  turned  our  backs  upon  the  great 


314 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


in  it 


I  I 


Pacific,  and  by  the  combined  assistance  of  the  Indian 
paddle  and  the  flood  tide  passed  rapidly  up  the 
river,  and  at  nightfall  encamped  again  at  the  salmon 
fishery.  We  here  ascertained  that  the  Indians  at 
the  falls  are  not  of  the  same  tribe  of  those  on  the 
coast,  though  they  speak  a  similar  language. 

Spreading  our  blankets  down  upon  the  rocks,  we 
slept  without  molestation  though  surrounded  by 
treacherous  savages.  The  next  day  we  started  at  an 
early  hour,  and  though  we  had  but  fifteen  miles  to 
travel,  yet  on  account  of  the  numerous  strong  rapids 
we  had  to  ascend,  and  the  portages  we  had  to  make, 
we  were  till  sunset  in  reaching  the  fort.  We  were 
again  welcomed  by  the  Frenchman,  and  refreshed 
with  a  supper  of  bread  made  of  the  flour  of  wheat 
pounded  in  a  mortar,  and  roasted  elk  beef.  During 
the  evening  Mr.  Gonea  came  to  us  very  much 
excited,  and  congratulated  us  on  the  safe  guardian- 
ship his  wife  had  exercised  over  us  in  our  absence. 
He  told  us  that  in  all  probability  we  should  have 
been  robbed  of  all  that  we  had,  if  we  had  not  lost 
our  lives,  had  it  not  been  for  the  faithfulness  of  his 
wife  and  her  brother.  He  said  that  one  of  the 
chiefs  of  the  clan  we  had  visited  was  at  the  fort  on 
our  first  arrival,  and  saw  us  as  we  came  in.  Learn- 
ing that  we  designed  to  visit  his  people  on  the  coast, 
and  excited  with  the  utmost  fear,  he  hastened  down 
the  river  and  reported  many  evil  things  about  us, 
intending  thereby  to  instigate  the  Indians  to  prevent 
our  going  among  them.  Mr.  Lee  had  brought  with 
him  a  fowling  piece,  and  had  in  his  possession  a 


tsh 


I 


^P" 


vre 

by 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


315 


patent  sliot-pouch.  This  was  the  thing  that  had 
alarmed  the  chief.  One  story  he  told  was  that  we 
had  brought  medicine  in  a  bag  that  Mr.  Lee  wore  on 
his  neck  for  the  purpose  of  killing  them  all  off,  and 
that  if  we  were  permitted  to  come  among  them  the 
fatal  bag  would  be  opened  and  they  would  all  be 
destroyed.  This  story  exasperated  many  of  tliem, 
especially  the  younger  men  of  the  tribe,  and  Gonea's 
wife  told  him  that  we  were  in  the  greatest  danger 
the  night  we  slept  on  the  coast.  She  said  that  the 
Indians  were  lurking  about  us  during  that  whole 
night,  seeking  an  opportunity  to  attack  when  it  was 
dark  around  our  tent ;  but  that  she  and  her  brother 
kept  a  constant  watch  over  us  until  morning.  This 
explained  to  me  the  exciting  circumstances  of  that 
anxious  night  already  described.  The  young  men 
of  the  tribe  had  resolved  to  attack  us  in  the  night, 
and  but  for  the  wise  precaution  of  our  protectress  in 
first  erecting  our  tent  in  an  open  space  midway 
between  the  ocean  and  the  forest,  and  second,  in 
kee])ing  up  a  bright  lire  during  the  whole  night  and 
watching  over  us,  we  doubtless  had  fallen  victims  to 
savage  barbarity,  and  our  mission  there  would  have 
ended,  and  this  story  had  never  been  told.  But  be 
this  as  it  mav,  at  the  time  we  were  not  sensible  that 
we  were  particularly  exposed,  and,  indeed,  we  felt 
ourselves  safe  under  the  protection  of  our  heavenly 
Father. 

On  Friday  morning  we  prepared  to  continue  our 
exploring  tour  further  into  the  interior  and  up  the 
valley  of  the  llmpqua  liiver.      Through  the  kind 


316 


OREGON   AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


m- 

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assistance  of  Mr.  Gonea  we  procured  an  Indian 
guide  of  the  Uinpqna  tribe,  whom  the  French  had 
designated  by  the  name  of  ""We  We,"  who  well 
understood  the  jargon  of  the  country  and  could 
ofHciate  as  our  interpreter.  The  forenoon  was  spent 
mostly  in  finding  our  horses  and  preparing  our  pack. 
All  being  ready,  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  we 
moved  up  the  river,  our  guide  in  advance,  and  pass- 
ing over  a  number  of  high  hills  and  fording  the 
Umpqua  three  times  where  the  bottom  was  very 
rocky  and  the  water  was  up  to  our  horses'  backs,  we 
camped  at  night  on  the  bank  of  a  small  rivulet  and 
under  the  shelter  of  a  grove  of  fir.  "We  had  traveled 
twenty  miles. 

Saturday,  29,  continued  our  toilsome  way  over 
mountains  and  through  valleys,  and  at  noon  arrived 
at  the  head-quarters  of  that  portion  of  the  Indians 
of  this  valley  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the  river. 
Here  the  head  chief  of  the  Umpquas  had  fixed 
a  temporary  abode,  and  here  one  of  those  circum- 
stances had  recently  transpired  which,  though  of  com- 
mon occurrence  in  heathen  countries,  where  the  vicious 
propensities  of  human  nature  are  permitted  to  revel 
uncontrolled,  are  sufiicient  to  freeze  the  heart's  blood 
even  to  contemplate  at  a  distance.  A  report  had 
readied  the  ears  of  the  chief  of  the  Umpquas  that  his 
wife  had  been  guilty  of  infidelity  toward  her  husband. 
This  so  enraged  him  that,  without  knowing  whether 
the  report  was  true  or  false,  he  seized  his  musket  and 
went  directly  to  the  lodge  where  his  wife  was  sitting 
and  deliberately  shot  her  through  the  heart. 


OREGON   AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


31Y 


Soon  after  our  arrival  on  the  side  of  the  river 
opposite  to  the  village,  this  chief  with  the  few  intMi 
that  were  with  him  came  over  to  see  us.  lie  made 
us  a  long  speech,  which  was  interpreted  to  us  by 
We  We,  in  making  which  one  of  his  first  objects 
seemed  to  be  to  justify  the  murder  of  his  wife,  and 
then  to  express  his  gratitude  that  Christian  teachers 
had  come  among  them.  While  he  was  haranguing 
us,  my  attention  was  caught  away  from  his  speech 
by  a  terrible  burst  of  heathen  passions  which  took 
place  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  among  the  lodges. 
In  the  absence  of  the  men  the  women  had  a  regular 
fight,  scratching  and  biting  each  other,  and  tearing 
one  another's  hair,  and  squalling  most  frightfully. 
So  tremendous  was  the  explosion  that  even  the  chief 
paused  in  the  midst  of  his  address  and  significantly 
remarked,  "  Our  women  are  Idas  masicha  (very 
bad.) " 

Such  were  the  indications  here  that  we  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  sooner  we  were  out  of  the 
place  the  better  it  would  be  for  us,  and  so  soon  as 
we  had  taken  a  little  refreshment  from  our  scanty 
stores,  we  told  our  guide  that  we  were  ready  to  pro- 
ceed ;  but  he  positively  refused  to  go  any  fm-ther  that 
day,  saying  that  it  would  be  using  his  people  very 
ill,  and  that  the  chief  would  be  very  angry  with  us 
if  we  did  not  stop  and  sleep  with  them  one  night. 
The  contention  became  quite  warm,  and  we  began 
to  consider  ourselves  in  rather  critical  circumstances. 
If  abandoned  by  our  guide  it  was  extremely  doubtful, 
as  we  had  traveled  much  of  the  distance  without 


318 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


i 


the  sign  of  a  trail,  whether  we  could  lind  our  way- 
back  to  the  fort,  or  forward  to  the  valley  wo  were 
Boeking. 

But  with  all  these  difficulties  wo  showed  that  wo 
were  fixed  in  our  resolutions  to  leave  this  suspicious 
horde  of  savages  before  darkness  should  favor  Ihein 
in  the  execution  of  any  treacherous  designs  which 
they  might  entertain  toward  us.  Discovering  that 
we  were  ready  to  mount  our  horses,  "W  e  We  became 
more  pliable,  and  said  that  he  would  proceed  with  us 
on  condition  that  Ave  would  pay  him  an  extra  shirt, 
having  at  first  given  him  one  shirt  and  a  pair  of 
pantaloons,  Mr.  Lee  told  him  that  he  would  give 
him  no  more,  but  to  get  rid  of  the  difficulty  I  told 
"We  We  that  if  he  would  go  I  would  give  him 
the  additional  shirt  so  soon  as  we  should  reach  the 
California  trail  leading  through  the  great  valley. 
Turning,  to  his  people  he  addressed  them  a  few 
words  in  the  Umpqua  language,  and  then  told  us  he 
was  i-eady  to  go.  Accordingly  we  left  this  group 
of  wretched  beings  about  three  o'clock  P.  M.,  and 
galloped  swiftly  over  a  little  plain  toward  a  high 
mountain.  Three  hours  of  hard  labor  in  ascending 
and  descending  brought  us  to  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  on  the  opposite  side,  and  passing  through 
a  dense  thicket  we  found  ourselves  again  on  the 
bank  of  the  river.  We  We  brought  out  a  well- 
known  Indian  "  whoop,"  and  was  answered  by 
another  Indian  just  below  us  on  the  river.  Im- 
mediately four  Indians  came  in  sight  with  a  canoe, 
and    We   Wc  told  us  we  had  better  unpack  our 


OREGON   AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


319 


liorses,  and  put  all  our  things  in  tlio  canoe  to  bo 
taken  up  the  river  a  few  miles  beyond  a  place 
where  the  pass  by  the  way  of  the  trail  w.as  vei'y 
rocky,  narrow,  and  dangerous. 

But  the  strange  conduct  of  the  Indians  we  had  just 
left  had  excited  our  suspicions,  and  supposing  that 
those  in  the  canoe  were  some  of  the  same  party  whom 
We  We  had  perhaps  caused  to  come  up  the  river  I'or 
no  good  purpose,  we  resolved  to  keep  what  we  had 
under  our  own  eye  as  long  as  we  could.  We  therefore 
told  the  guide  that  we  should  keep  our  things  on  our 
horses'  backs.  We  We  hung  his  head,  and  told  us 
we  would  be  sorry  for  it  before  we  got  through. 

We  proceeded,  but  found  it  as  We  We  had  fore- 
warned us.  Our  trail  lay  along  a  frightful  precipice 
which  towered  far  above  us,  and  extended  far  below 
us,  and  in  some  places  was  so  narrow  and  broken  that 
a  misstep  would  have  precipitated  us  headlong  on 
the  rocks  below,  or  into  the  rushing  waters  of  the 
Umpqua.  In  one  instance  my  own  horse,  which  I  hap- 
pened to  be  leading  at  the  time  instead  of  riding, 
fell  fifteen  feet  down  the  rocks,  but  catching  upon  a 
kind  of  shelf  on  the  side  of  the  precipice,  at  length 
succeeded  in  gaining  the  trail  without  receiving  much 
injury. 

But  we  were  not  destined  to  make  tlie  pass  without 
receiving  a  proof  that  the  caution  of  We  We  was 
well  founded.  We  were  attempting  to  pass  the  last 
dangerous  point  when  "  Old  Pomp,"  our  pack-horse, 
lost  his  footing,  and  rolling  down  a  rocky  steep  of 
some  thirty  feet,  went  backward  into  the  Umpqua 


320 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTTONS. 


i.'i.; 


River.  We  liad  fastened  around  his  neck  a  lasso 
some  forty  feet  long,  and  tlie  loose  end  of  the  lasso 
remaining  on  shore,  we  succeeded,  by  drawing  it 
around  a  tree,  in  raising  and  keeping  the  head  of  the 
animal  above  the  water  until  We  We  had  relieved 
him  of  his  pack.  While  We  We  dashed  in  among 
the  rocks,  where  the  water  was  up  to  his  neck,  and  was 
exerting  himself  to  his  utmost  to  relieve  the  horse  of 
his  burden  and  save  him  from  drow  'ling,  he  taunt- 
ingly told  us  that  we  might  have  saved  ourselves 
that  difficulty  if  we  had  truste<i  to  the  honesty  of  an 
Indian,  and  we  ourselves  began  to  suspect  that  our 
fears  had  been  quite  ground'  oss.  It  required  our 
utmost  effijrts  to  keep  the  horse  from  drowning  ;  but 
after  we  had  relieved  him  of  his  pack  he  managed 
himself  a  little  better,  and  finding  a  place  which  was 
not  quite  so  steep  as  the  one  where  he  entered  the 
river,  we  succeeded  at  that  point  in  getting  him  up  on 
the  rocky  shore.  All  our  bedding,  provisions,  etc., 
were  thoroughly  soaked ; '  but  gathering  up  what 
was  not  spoiled,  putting  some  on  the  horses,  and 
carrying  some  on  our  own  shoulders,  we  started  on, 
being  informed  by  our  guide  that  it  was  not  far  to 
a  fine  prairie. 

Night  began  to  set  in,  and  as  we  left  the  scene  of 
our  disaster  we  entered  a  dense  forest  of  fir,  and  the 
gloom  continued  to  thicken  around  us  until  we  were 
enveloped  in  total  darkness.  We  were  leading  our 
animals  by  the  bridle,  and  feeling  our  way  among 
the  trees  in  the  midst  of  darkness  so  dense  that  it 
was  impossible  to  see  a  white  horse  though  within  a 


OREGON  AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


321 


foot  of  one's  face,  when  we  became  so  entangled 
among  the  logs,  ravines,  and  brush  that  we  found 
it  was  impossible  to  go  either  forward  or  backward, 
to  the  right  or  to  the  left,  and  colloquizing  a  little 
through  the  darkness,  we  came  to  the  conclusion 
to  tie  our  horses  to  the  trees  and  make  the  best  of 
the  night  we  could.  Having  a  few  matches  in  my 
pocket  that  I  had  preserved  from  getting  wet,  and 
the  leaves  and  limbs  under  my  feet  being  perfectly 
dry,  I  soon  had  the  forest  illuminated,  and  then  was 
disclosed  to  our  view  a  most  horrible  place.  We 
sought  for  a  spot  on  which  to  sleep,  but  could  find 
none  level  and  large  enough  to  stretch  ourselves 
upon.  We  must  either  bend  over  the  top  of  a  knoll, 
or  double  up  in  a  ravine,  or  we  must  remain  in  a 
standing  or  sitting  posture.  We  preferred  the  second ; 
so  wrapping  ourselves  in  our  blankets  v  'lich  we  had 
taken  time  to  dry,  and  rolling  into  a  hollow,  we  tried 
to  compose  ourselves  to  sleep ;  but  the  crackling  of 
limbs  by  the  tramp  of  our  horses,  the  howling  of 
wolves,  and  the  screech  of  an  owl  above  our  heads, 
frequently  disturbed  our  repose.  The  morning  sun, 
however,  enabled  us  so  to  adjust  our  rather  disar- 
ranged affairs  thiit  we  could  quite  comfortably  pros- 
ecute our  journey. 

The  next  day  was  Sabbath,  but  we  could  not  remain 
where  we  were,  and  we  resolved  to  keep  the  day  in 
the  best  manner  we  could  under  the  circumstances. 
Learning  from  We  We  that  a  band  of  the  Umpquas 
was  a  few  miles  away  we  resolved  to  visit  them.  We 
found  about  thirty,  with  whom  we  tarried  for  several 


322 


OREGON  AND   ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


5.. I 


hours,  and  preached  to  them  "  Josus  and  the  resur- 
rection." They  behaved  themselves  quite  orderly, 
and  were  anxious  to  render  us  all  the  assistance  in 
their  power  ;  and  they  told  us  they  yory  Much  wanted 
a  missionary  to  come  and  live  ".rac  'hem.  Not 
desiring  to  sleep  in  the  vicinit}'  .  '.j.i"  camp  we 
made  signs  of  wishing  to  leave,  and  the  old  men 
came  around  us,  of  whom  there  were  3eve;'al,  and  pat- 
ting us  on  the  shoulders  professed  to  have  conceived 
for  us  a  strong  attachment.  But  we  concluded  that 
their  love  for  us  was  not  so  ardent  as  to  render  it  desir- 
able on  our  part  to  stop  with  them  over  night ;  and  as 
our  provisions  were  nearly  exhausted,  we  decided  to  set 
our  faces  toward  the  Willamette  Valley.  Gathering 
up  the  wreck  of  our  pack  we  again  mounted,  and  ford- 
ing theUmpquafor  the  last  time,  traveled  abou<  fv.lve 
miles,  and  encamped  on  the  bank  of  a  bef  rfiUil 
rivulet  known  as  the  Callapooia  Creek,  ^u  o  had 
traveled  during  the  day  about  twenty-five  m"ic°  )vpt 
as  fine  a  country  as  can  be  found  in  ".ny  part  of  the 
world.  An  agreeable  variety  of  hills,  plains,  and 
groves  of  pine,  fir,  and  oak,  constituted  scenery  of 
the  most  picturesque  beauty,  and  the  eye  was  never 
weary  in  ganing  upon  the  ever-varying  picture. 
Though  the  country  was  destitute  of  .habitants, 
except  the  wild  beasts  and  savages  as  w!' '  •>:>  they, 
yet  we  could  not  but  contemplate  the  time  --x.,  not  far 
distant  when  it  would  he  teeming  with  all  the 
activities  and  associ^itions  o.''  «•  civilized  and  Christian 
pco])le. 

The  Indians  inhabiting  the  Umpqua  Valley  from 


W 


OllEGOX   AND   ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


323 


ire 


the  Pacific  Ocean  one  linndred  miles  into  the  interior 
were  very  few.  All  that  we  could  find,  or  get  any 
satisfactory  evidence  as  then  in  existence,  did  not  ex- 
ceed three  hundred  and  seventy-five  souls.  These 
lived  in  several  different  clans,  were  hostile  to  each 
other,  and  spoke  two  distinct  languages.  They  were 
favorable  toward  the  establisliment  of  a  mission  in 
their  country,  but  seemed  to  think  that  the  greatest 
benefit  it  would  confer  upon  them  would  be  to  enable 
them  to  sell  their  beaver  and  deer  skins  for  a  higher 
price.  The  most  of  them,  residing  as  they  did  on 
the  coast,  were  almost  inaccessible,  and  the  estab- 
lishment and  support  of  a  mission  among  them  would 
have  been  attended  with  immense  expense. 

The  best  information  we  could  obtain  from  the 
Indians  and  others,  led  us  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
time  doubtless  had  been  when  the  Indians  of  the 
valley  had  been  vastly  more  numerous,  but  by  disease 
and  family  wars  their  numbers  had  been  greatly 
reduced,  and  were  still  rapidly  diminishing.  Under 
the  solemn  impression  that  the  doom  of  extinction 
was  suspended  over  this  wretched  race,  and  that  the 
hand  of  Providence  was  removing  it  to  give  place  to 
a  people  more  worthy  of  this  beautiful  and  fertile 
country,  we  committed  ourselves  to  quietness  and 
repose  for  the  night. 

Having  fulfilled  his  engagement  in  bringing  us  to 
this  point,  our  guide  took  leave  of  us  and  returned  to 
his  people  ;  and  on  Monday  morning,  September  1, 
having  the  California  trail  as  our  guide,  we  quickened 
our  pace  northwardly,  and  at  noon  stopped  for  din- 


324 


OREGON  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


'S'X 


ner  on  Elk  Eiver,  at  tlie  place  where,  on  going  out, 
we  left  the  trail.  In  the  afternoon  we  again  passed 
over  the  Callapooia  Mountains,  and  found  that  the 
fire  was  still  raging  with  increased  violence.  A 
vast  quantity  of  the  large  fir  and  cedar  timber  had 
been  burned  down,  and  in  some  places  the  trail  was  so 
blockaded  with  fallen  trees  that  it  was  almost  impos- 
sible to  proceed ;  while  now  and  then  we  passed  a 
giant  cedar  or  mammoth  fir,  through  whose  trunks 
the  fire  had  made  a  passage,  and  was  still  flaming 
like  an  oven.  Every  few  moments  these  majestic 
spars  would  come  crashing,  crackling,  and  thunder- 
ing to  the  ground. 

But  while  the  fire  was  thus  robbing  the  mountain 
of  its  glory,  we  pushed  on  over  its  desolated  ridges, 
and  at  sundown  arrived  on  a  little  prairie  at  its 
northern  base,  where  we  made  our  camp ;  but  we  were 
often  awakened  during  the  night  by  the  crash  of 
falling  timber. 

Tuesday,  2,  proceeded,  and  at  noon  arrived  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  Willamette  Yalley,  where,  ac- 
cording to  engagement,  we  met  the  Callapooia  chief. 
He  had  collected  about  sixty  of  his  people,  and  said 
he  had  about  forty  more.  We  remained  with  them 
four  hours,  and,  as  best  we  could,  preached  to  them 
"  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ."  Many  of  tliem 
were  sick,  and  they  appeared  wretched  beyond  de- 
scription. Our  bowels  of  compassion  yearned  over 
them,  but  it  was  not  in  our  power  to  help  them. 

Commending  them  to  God,  at  four  P.  M.  we  pur- 
sued our  way,  but  finding  no  water,  we  did  not  camp 


OREGOX  AND  ITS   INSTITUTIONS. 


325 


till  eleven   o'clock   at  night.     Tliongli  it  was  very 
dark,  our  Spanish  horses  kept  the  narrow  trail  wind- 
ing along  down  the  valley,  while  ever  and  anon  the 
stillness  of  the  evening  would  be  broken  by  the  dis- 
mal howling  of  the  wolves  that  prowled  around  us. 
Finding  no  water  yet,  fearing  that  our  horses  would 
fail,  we  stripped  them  on  the  open  prairie,  and  turned 
them  loose  to  shirk  for  themselves,  and  lay  ourselves 
down  upon  our  blankets  without  supper,  and  with 
our  lips  parched  with  thirst.     Next  morning,  how- 
ever, like  Hagar  in  the  desert,  we  found  ourselves 
within   a   short   distance   of  good   water.      Here  1 
roasted  a  small  duck  for  our  breakfast,  which  the 
Callapooia  chief  had  given  us,  and  which  we  ate 
with  neither  bread  nor  sauce ;  but  a  cup  of  coffee, 
that  sine  qua  nan  for  prairie  traveling,  washed  it 
down,  and  on  the  strength  of  it  we  traveled  forty 
miles  during  the  day  over  a  country  of  surpassing 
loveliness.     Surely,  thought  I,  infinite  skill  has  here 
been  employed  in  fitting  up  a  country  which  requires 
nothing  more  than  a  population  under  the  influence 
of  the  religion  of  Christ  to  render  it  a  perfect  para- 
dise.     The  last  night  we  encamped  within  fifteen 
miles  of  our  families  and  friends,  and,  picking  the 
bones  of  our  duck,  which  we  had  the  precaution  to 
carry  with  us,  we  rested  upon  our  blankets  until 
morning. 

Thursday,  the  4th,  weary  and  hungry,  about  two 
o'clock  P.  M.  we  reached  our  home  in  safety,  but 
found  that  our  families  in  our  absence  had  been  in- 
vaded by  disease ;   but  having  been  constantly  in  a 


■Hi 


■H 


326 


OREGON  AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


m 
J- 

u 


I'll 


¥A-^- 


;  i 


healthy  exercise  ourselves  we  returned  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  excellent  health,  and  the  temporary  weakness 
resulting  from  excessive  labor  and  the  want  of  food  for 
the  previous  three  days  was  soon  remedied  by  an  ap- 
propriation of  "  nature's  sweet  restorer  "  and  the  ample 
viands  spread  before  us  by  our  companions. 

Twenty-eight  years  have  passed  since  this,  to  me, 
memorable  tonr  of  observation  was  performed.  The 
country  then,  from  Salem  to  Mexico,  the  distance  of 
seven  hundred  miles,  so  far  as  civilized  humanity 
was  concerned,  was  one  vast  solitude,  now  the  whole 
extent  is  occupied  by  Anglo-Saxons,  and  everywhere 
appear  the  signs  of  an  advancing  civilization  and 
Christianity.  The  same  country  which  twenty-eight 
years  ago  was  so  desolate  and  dreary,  for  four  years 
past  has  constituted  a  presiding  elder's  district,  where 
the  writer  has  been  preaching  the  Gospel  to  thou- 
sands upon  thousands  in  every  part  of  the  land.  Let 
it  never  be  forgotten  that  the  missionary  of  the  cross 
was  not  only  the  pioneer,  but  the  instrument  of  es- 
tablishing a  Christian  civilization  on  the  shores  of  the 
great  Pacific.  Surely  the  wilderness  and  the  solitary 
places  have  been  made  glad  for  them,  and  the  desert 
has  rejoiced  and  blossomed  as  the  rose. 


THE  END. 


iiPfMIIVPWW^PpppHipiipiM 


